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Equality and Human Rights, The Background
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The Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires all public authorities designated by the Equality Commission to set out in their Equality Schemes how they propose to fulfil the duties imposed by Section 75 of the Act.
Schedule 9 of the Act set up the Equality Commission. It is an independent public body responsible for the functions previously exercised by the:
- Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland
- Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland
- Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Disability Council
The Equality Commission’s task is to use its powers to enforce Northern Ireland’s equality legislation on disability, fair employment and treatment, race relations, sex discrimination and equal pay. In addition it has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the statutory duty on public authorities concerning equality of opportunity and good relations, arising from Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Further information on the Equality Commission can be obtained at http://www.equalityni.org/
- Sections 68-71 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 set out the powers and duties of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
- The Commission’s website carries a significant amount of information about human rights in Northern Ireland: http://www.nihrc.org/
- The Board liaises with the Commission through its Education Forum.
- The Human Rights Act came into effect on 2 October 2000 and incorporates the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. These rights are now enforceable in courts throughout the UK including NI courts.
- The Human Rights Act makes it unlawful for a public authority to act incompatibly with the Convention rights and allows for a case to be brought in an UK court or tribunal against the authority if it does so.
- All public authorities have a positive obligation to ensure that respect for human rights is at the core of their day to day work. This means acting in a way that positively reinforces the principles of the Human Rights Act.
