At the Equality and Human Rights Commission we believe that everyone should be treated fairly and with dignity. We bring together the work of the three previous equality Commissions – the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission, and have new responsibilities to other sectors of society: age, gender, gender assignment, human rights, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.
Our remit is to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and build good relations, giving everyone a fair chance to participate in society. Sounds simple? We only wish it were.
Because we don’t all have equal chances in life, and because some people choose to ignore the rights of others - even when they are set out in law - we can make a difference. We aim to give help to those without a voice and help restore the basic rights and freedoms that everyone should enjoy. That shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a given.
That means we act as a source of information and advice for a wide range of people, in a variety of situations. The Commission can explain your rights and offer support and guidance on how to deal with discrimination or inequality, for example, at work, at school and when using services such as health, housing and transport.
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Contact us
You can find out more or get in touch with us via our website at www.equalityhumanrights.com or by contacting one of our helplines below.
Helpline – England
Telephone: 0845 604 6610
Textphone: 0845 604 6620
Fax: 0845 604 6630
Helpline – Scotland
Telephone: 0845 604 5510
Textphone: 0845 604 5520
Fax: 0845 604 5530
Helpline – Wales
Telephone: 0845 604 8810
Textphone: 0845 604 8820
Fax: 0845 604 8830
9am–5pm Monday to Friday, except Wednesday 9am–8pm
Calls from BT landlines are charged at local rates, but calls from mobiles and other providers may vary.
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What we're working on now
Working better
In Summer 2008 the Commission launched 'Working better', a new policy initiative to explore how we can match the aspirations of employees with the needs of employers. Continuing from the 'Transformation of work' project undertaken by the former Equal Opportunities Commission, we have expanded the parameters of Working better to include the needs of parents, carers, disabled people, young people and older workers.
We are currently at phase one of Working better, concentrating on the working needs and well-being of parents and families. However, work is already underway on the second phase of the project, ‘Working better for all’, which will look at unleashing the talent of disabled workers and older workers who want to stay in the workplace longer.
You can read more general information about Working better here.
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Forum
Join our forum where you can share your views on equality and human rights issues – we want to hear from you.
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Your rights to fly campaign
Key facts
Under new European law, if you are disabled or have difficulty moving around you can receive assistance when you fly to and from Europe.
You do not need to be permanently or physically disabled to benefit from this service. In fact, anyone who has difficulty moving around, for example, because of their disability, age or a temporary injury, can receive help when they fly.
The law affects the whole of the air travel process, not just the flight itself. It also covers booking your flights, arriving at the airport, checking in, getting on and off the plane and leaving the airport. For more information see the Commission step by step guide to your rights.
The regulation applies to tour operators and travel agents as well as to airports and airlines. This means that tour operators and travel agents must pass on your needs to the airlines, and they in turn must inform the airports of the individual services required.
If you have a complaint you can contact the Commission for advice.
The Commission are responsible for dealing with complaints about UK airlines and airports in England, Scotland and Wales and can advise you of your rights and what further action you can take.
They will provide advice and example letters to send to the appropriate body - be that the travel agent, the airline, the airport or another organisation.
If you are not satisfied with the response, they can take the matter up further. They will liaise with colleagues in the Department for Transport and the CAA (the airline regulator) and other European Union nations to improve services to disabled and less mobile passengers.
To find out more about our campaign, visit www.equalityhumanrights.com/airtravel