Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Last updated

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Agency overview
Formed1 March 1999
Jurisdiction Northern Ireland
HeadquartersEquality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP
Employees69
Agency executives
  • Geraldine McGahey OBE , Chief Commissioner
  • Neil Anderson, Deputy Chief Commissioner
  • Louise Conlon, Chief Executive
Parent department Executive Office
Key document
Website https://equalityni.org/

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is a non-departmental public body in Northern Ireland established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. "The Commission is responsible for implementing the legislation on sex discrimination and equal pay, race relations, sexual orientation, age, religious or similar philosophical belief, political opinion and disability. The Commission’s remit also includes overseeing the statutory duties on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity and good relations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998." [1]

Contents

About

The commission's vision is "Northern Ireland as a shared, integrated and inclusive place, a society where difference is respected and valued, based on equality and fairness for the entire community". [2]

Its mission is "to advance equality, promote equality of opportunity, encourage good relations and challenge discrimination through promotion, advice and enforcement". [2]

Responsibilities

"The Commission´s duties and functions are set out in the legislation for which we have responsibility. General duties include:

On 1 October 1999 the Commission took over the functions previously exercised by the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Fair Employment Commission and the Northern Ireland Disability Council.

Since 1999, a number of new pieces of legislation have been introduced. The commission is now responsible for promoting awareness of and enforcing anti-discrimination law on the following grounds: age, disability, race, sex (including marital and civil partner status), sexual orientation, religious belief and political opinion.

In 2008, the Commission became part of the UK independent mechanism promoting, protecting and monitoring implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, alongside the three UK national human rights institutions.

Leadership

Commissioners [3] [4] [5]
NameRoleTenure
Geraldine McGahey OBE Chief Commissioner2020-present
Neil AndersonDeputy Chief Commissioner2020-present
Duane Farrell2020-present
Helen Ferguson2020-2023
Carmel McKinney OBE 2020-2024
Jarlath Kearney2020-2023
Deepa Mann-Kler2020-2023
Siobhan Cullen2022-present
Maureen Brunt2022-present
Ellen Finlay2022-present
Monica Fitzpatrick MBE 2022-present
Colin Kennedy2022-present
John McCallister2022-present
Sheena McKinney2022-present
Preeti Yellamaty2022-present
Lisa Caldwell2023-present
Nazia Latif2024-present
Stephen Mathews OBE 2023-present
Jim McCooe2024-present


Dr Evelyn Collins OBE served as Chief executive officer, providing leadership to the commission's senior management team. [6] In this position, she has spoken out about equal opportunity for women in employment in Northern Ireland, and strengthening equality bodies like the Commission across Europe. [7] [8]


Reactions

In July 2009 Peter Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party criticised the commission for having insufficient Protestant representation. Sinn Féin defended the commission. [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Home". The Executive Office.
  2. 1 2 3 "ECNI - Equality Commission for Northern Ireland".
  3. ↑ "Our Structure". Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE EQUALITY COMMISSION FOR NORTHERN IRELAND". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Collins, Evelyn. "Evelyn Collins, author at Social Europe" . Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "Evelyn Collins: It's time for urgent action to address discrimination in Northern Ireland". belfasttelegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Collins, Evelyn (22 March 2022). "Enhancing Europe's equality framework" . Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "DUP leader slams equality body". British Broadcasting Corporation. 27 July 2009.
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