This consultation concerns amendments to the Equality Act 2010 and the Pensions Act 2004 to reflect development in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. These developments in European law mean that, where a pension scheme is equalising its benefits as between men and women, it has to assume a notional comparator where the inequality is a result of the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) provisions in the Pension Schemes Act 1993. (more…)

Advice briefing document on Equality Act 2010 has been produced for school leaders, school staff and governing bodies in maintained schools and Academies. It may also be useful for local authorities and parents.

To access the document, follow the link.

Recent research revealed that the majority of schools (62 per cent) were unaware of the Single Equality Duty (now known as the Public Sector Equality Duty) and the range of protected equality strands covered. Specific duties are coming into force this autumn as schools will have to set equality objectives detailing what they will do to address the persistent causes of inequality. (more…)

A new independent audit of the Government’s Big Society – the first comprehensive assessment of how far community empowerment, social action and the opening up public services is being achieved – has been announced today.

The Audit’s first report is expected to be published early next year and will bring data together to measure how far, in practice, a genuine transfer of power from government to civil society is taking place.

The newly-created think-tank, Civil Exchange, is to carry out the Big Society Audit in collaboration with independent research organisation, Democratic Audit, and social policy communications agency, DHA. (more…)

Recent Rulings Round Up – Courtesy of the Solution’s Marlene Ellis

 Many organisation’s are wondering how human rights and the new Equality Act will play a part in their day-to-day work.

Marlene Ellis of The Solution has put together a few briefings of cases that have recently come to light which reflect the new Equality Act. (more…)

Oxfam is bringing together grassroots organisations and policy makers to share learning about the Equality Act 2010 and explore innovative ways to work collaboratively. (more…)

The Discrimination Law Association (DLA) is pleased to invite you to its annual conference: ‘Equality Act – One Year On’.

The keynote address will be given by Professor Sir Bob Hepple and speakers include: Karon Monaghan QC on the impact of government proposals on equality law; Helen Mountfield QC on recent developments in public sector equality duty; Professor Robert Wintemute and Professor Lucy Vickers who will discuss the competing rights of religion or belief and sexual orientation.

This is THE essential conference for anyone working with and interested in developments in equality law.

The conference is on Monday 17 October at Simmons & Simmons’ London office, CityPoint, One Ropemaker Street London EC2Y 9SS

Please RSVP directly to the Discrimination Law Association. For details and booking information visit http://www.discriminationlaw.org.uk/

Westminster Briefing is holding a conference on ‘Refugees, Migrants and the Equality Act 2010: Understanding the Act and Meeting Responsibilities’. (more…)

BRAP are holding a hands-on workshop to help you understand and implement the Equality Act requirements for your organisation.
Tuesday 27 September, 9:45am-3:00pm at the Bond, in Birmingham. (more…)

A new one day training course from Disability Law Service: Using the Equality Act 2010 to Support People with Learning Disabilities

Date: Friday 23^rd September 2011, 10.00am – 4.30pm

Venue: Disability Law Service, 39-45 Cavell Street, London E1 5DL

Do you work with people with a learning disability? Do you want to know more about how you can use the provisions of the Equality Act to better support people with a learning disability to gain and retain employment, assert their rights to access the services and facilities they want to use, and to enable them to challenge discrimination? (more…)

‘Making Human Rights Happen’

16 Rights | 16 Cities | 16 Weeks

EREN is working with BIHR on the free-to-attend National Human Rights Tour, visiting 16 UK cities from September to December 2011. We will celebrate the Human Rights Act, look at how human rights relate to the Coalition’s plans, and address human rights issues both nationally and specific to each region that we visit.

Please check the Events Calendar for details on dates and locations.

Six road shows are being funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) through BIHR’s ‘Human Rights in the Community Project’. These are Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Manchester, Newcastle, and Sheffield. They will follow a similar agenda to the other events with the addition of specific information on the Community Project, input from the official partner, EREN (English Regions Equality Network), and presentations from participating pilot organisations.

For further details, and to book onto an event, please visit:

http://www.bihr.org.uk/events/bihr-national-human-rights-tour-information-page#format