PRESS
RELEASE 21.2.12
BLACK
ACTIVISTS RISING AGAINST CUTS (BARAC) UK
BARAC
supports the PCS Save the EHRC Campaign
and the planned industrial action being taken by PCS union members at the
Equality and Human Rights Commission on Thursday 23rd of February.
A 63% cut to
budget and 72% cut to staff will lead to legal advice and representation being
severely reduced or non-existent as several hundred advice and caseworkers are made redundant and the EHRC Helpline is cut.
BARAC is
concerned that these cuts will mean that those on the receiving end of race and
other forms of discrimination will have no access to legal advice and that when
public sector organisations fail to comply with the public sector duty no
enforcement by the EHRC will be carried out allowing employers and services
providers to ignore any disproportionate impact of their policies and practices
on black and minority ethnic workers and service users.
At a time when
the programme of con-dem cuts is impacting disproportionately on those who face
the most discrimination including black service users, workers and communities
there is likely to be an increase in the number of people seeking advice and
support in dealing with discrimination.
In addition
the end of the EHRC grants programme which has given 14 million pounds to
organisations providing advice and legal representation to victims of discrimination
means that many of those organisations are no longer able to continue their
work due to lack of funds. It also means that there is no organisation for
individuals to turn to for advice. BARAC is concerned that the inability of
individuals to challenge discrimination because they have no support will lead
to an increase in discrimination.
Zita Holbourne, Joint Chair of BARAC said;
‘The EHRC has a statutory remit
to promote and monitor human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote
equality across the nine protected grounds which include race, gender and disability. It is of grave concern that the government
programme of cuts to the EHRC will lead to it failing in its statutory remit
and in turn failing huge numbers of individuals facing discrimination,
particularly those who are being forced into poverty and deprivation through
con-dem cuts. This is why we will be standing with PCS members in the EHRC on
Thursday.
Lee Jasper, Joint Chair of BARAC said, ‘The withdrawal of the EHRC
grants function will result in fewer people, particularly the poorest taking
discrimination cases and less access to justice for those who are most likely
to be on the receiving end of injustice through discrimination. I call on the government to stop the cuts to
the EHRC and properly resource it so it can carry out its functions and work
towards elimination of discrimination at work, in service provision and wider
society.
ENDS
Black Activists Rising
Against Cuts (BARAC UK) is a national organisation with regional structures
campaigning against the disproportionate impact of cuts on deprived communities
and black (BME) workers, service users and communities
For further info please contact:
BARAC
National / London
Lee Jasper
07984181797
Email: barac.info@gmail.com
Facebook:
‘Black Activists Rising Against Cuts’
Twitter:
BARACUK
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