In Britain yesterday, the Queen's speech to Parliament (full text) announced that the government would introduce legislation to create a single commission for equality and human rights. The proposal will consolidate nine existing anti-discrimination laws into one Equality Bill. In 2007, Britain's Ministry of Justice circulated a consultation document on this proposal. (See prior posting.) EPolitix and Pink News yesterday both discussed at greater length the provisions of the proposed new legislation. The British Humanist Association issued a release welcoming the announcement by the Queen, but urged that the law also address discrimination by religious organizations. It said: "Existing UK equality law gives religious groups power to discriminate against those who do not share their beliefs in both employment and service provision – even when they are receiving public funding – and this is one inequality that we look to the Government to address."
UPDATE: The Muslim Council of Britain on Thursday particularly welcomed the proposed provisions in the new Equality Bill that will require public bodies to consider how their spending decisions, employment practices, and service delivery can affect people according to their religion. Current law requires consideration of race, disability or gender; the new law would extend this to religion or belief, gender, age, sexual orientation and sexual reassignment. (Mathaba).
