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Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
by Thomas Chan
What is the Race Relations (Amendment)
Act 2002?
The Race Relations Act of 1976 regulates
race relations in Britain. The amended act establishes
and places a new positive race equality duty on listed
public authorities. It will be legally enforceable.
There is two parts to this amendment.
First, public authorities, in carryout its functions,
shall have due regard to the need: a. to eliminate unlawful
racial discrimination; b. to promote equality of opportunity;
and c. to promote good relations between persons of
different racial groups.
Secondly, the Home Secretary has also
published specific duties the Code of Practice in order
to help public authorities to deliver the general duty.
Specific duties are the steps, methods or arrangements
available to public authorities in fulfilling their
general duty and they include:
- Set out and publish a Race Equality
Scheme (RES)
- Assess the public authority’s
functions and policies, or proposed policies
- Set out arrangements for assessment,
consultation and monitoring
- Publish results of these activities
- Make sure the public have access
to information and services
- Training their staff
- Set out arrangements to monitor
their employment function
Who will be affected?
Currently, public authorities that
come under this duty fall into 5 groups:
- Central government departments
such as the Home Office, Department of Health
- Local authorities
- Health authorities and NHS trusts
- Police authorities and chief officers
of police
- School/college governing bodies
Who will be responsible for what?
Public authorities are required to
follow the specific duties in order to deliver the general
duty. The Commissioner for Racial Equality (CRE) and
other audition/inspecting bodies, such as the Audit
Commission, Best Value Inspectorate, Commission for
Health Improvement, Ofsted etc are responsible for setting
out performance indicators in order to measure, and
inspect these public authorities.
Why is it important to us and how
should we contribute to it?
Members of the public, as service users
and voluntary organisations should ensure that public
authorities promote and deliver race equality. Our role
is to:
- Assist different public authorities
with their consultation and assessment on the impact
of their policies
- Advise public authorities on how
best to consult with the community (for example, when,
where and whom to consult, is there a need for translation
and interpreting and the appropriate consultation
method to be adopted)
- Assist with training, inform staff
of public authorities on needs as well as any cultural,
social or other differences
- Ensure that the general duty and
specific duties are being met if you are in receipt
of funding or enter into contract with these public
authorities
- Work in partnership with these public
authorities to promote race equality
- Perform a scrutiny function to ensure
the delivery of equitable policies and services
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