Equality and Human Rights Commission

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Welsh: Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol
Agency overview
Formed	1 October 2007
Jurisdiction	Great Britain
Employees	218
Annual budget	£17.1 million (FY 20/21)
Agency executives	Baroness Falkner, Chair John Kirkpatrick, Interim Chief Executive Lesley Sawers, Interim Deputy Chair; Scotland Commissioner
Parent department	Cabinet Office
Key document	Equality Act 2006
Website	https://www.equalityhumanrights.com

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is a non-departmental public body in Great Britain, established by the Equality Act 2006 with effect from 1 October 2007. The Commission has responsibility for the promotion and enforcement of equality and non-discrimination laws in England, Scotland and Wales (in Scotland, together with the Scottish Human Rights Commission). It took over the responsibilities of the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission. The EHRC also has responsibility for other aspects of equality law: age, sexual orientation and religion or belief. A national human rights institution, it seeks to promote and protect human rights throughout Great Britain.

The EHRC has offices in Manchester, London, Glasgow and Cardiff.^[1] It is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Government Equalities Office, part of the Cabinet Office. It is separate from, and independent of, Government but accountable for its use of public funds. Its Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Women and Equalities.^[2][3] The EHRC's functions do not extend to Northern Ireland, where there is a separate Equality Commission (ECNI) and a Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), each and both established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in pursuance to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.^[4] The EHRC is also prevented from taking action on devolved human rights matters which the Scottish Parliament has granted the Scottish Human Rights Commission responsibility.^[5]

The current head of the EHRC is Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine, who took on the role in December 2020.^[6] The Commission has been criticised for its treatment of minority staff, and since 2021 for its actions in transgender matters, and for holding private meetings with anti-trans groups, such as the LGB Alliance and Fair Play For Women.^[7] Scottish National Party MP John Nicolson, deputy chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights in the UK Parliament, said: "Sadly the EHRC appears now to be working against, not for, LGBT rights. Our community no longer see it as our friend but as our opponent. It's yet another organisation tainted by Boris Johnson and his appointees."^[8]