The government's Equalities Review Interim Report must be rejected as a
flawed and dangerous analysis on equalities in general and racism in particular.
Whilst this is not the final report, which is expected to come out in the
autumn, it is clear that the review did not see challenging racism and discrimination
as a key component of their review. Long-standing demands such as affirmative
action and positive discrimination as 'balancing' measures are attacked.
We call on anyone responding to the Review (deadline 5 June) to make a strong
case for positive action measures to be strengthened within the law.
The Interim
Report also fails to support the extension of new rights to those working
in the private sector - such as the extension of positive duties
on race, disability and gender. Huge areas of discrimination and inequality
are omitted. The Review Panel of five people was not up to the job of leading
a major review of equalities, with one member, from the IPPR, resigning before
publication of the Report. For more details please see the NAAR, 1990 Trust,
NCBLO and OBV briefing paper on the interim report.
Download the briefing (PDF) here