A new report published by FGF has called for reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to strengthen equality and human rights protection for people living in the UK.
The ‘Vital institutions 01, Reform and renewal of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’ report recommendations includes calls for the EHRC to:
- Develop a clearer and robust organisational strategy to strengthen its work as strategic regulator and systemic reformer.
- Remain politically neutral but not passive, and lead public debates in sensitive areas within its remit.
- Return to being more outward facing and make greater use of its powers to collaborate with other regulators in housing, welfare and health sectors, where quality and human rights concerns arise but too often go unaddressed.
- Shift its focus away from reactive enforcement and towards proactive norm-setting, with improved use of evidence and enhanced strategic litigation.
The FGF report’s recommendations included calls for the government to:
- Give the EHRC multi-year budgets rather than annual budgets.
- Consider empowering parliamentary committees to take more of a lead role in the appointment of the chair of the EHRC, including through a binding or advisory veto (as has been proposed for other constitutional bodies).