Deadline extended for evidence of disability-related harassment in Britain
The Equality and Humans Rights Commission has today extended the deadline for giving evidence to its Inquiry into disability-related harassment. The Inquiry is investigating whether public bodies and public transport providers are fulfilling their legal obligations to prevent disabled people from being harassed.
Disabled people, their family, friends and associates now have until Friday 17 September 2010 to tell the Commission about their experiences of name-calling, intimidation, bullying or violence and other types of harassment. The Commission also wants to know if they sought help from any public body or transport provider and what support they got, either as a result of being harassed because of their disability or because of their connection to someone who is disabled.
Public bodies and transport providers are being asked to disclose what steps – if any – they are taking to meet their legal duties. Councils, police forces, schools and other public bodies as well as bus, train companies and other public transport providers found to be failing in their duties could face enforcement action by the Commission.
Evidence can be submitted in someone’s own words or via a questionnaire, and sent to the Commission by letter, email, telephone, textphone and via a secure portal on its website. Evidence can be taken in disabled people's preferred formats where required.
Mike Smith, lead Commissioner for the Inquiry, said:
“We’ve given people a few extra days to share their experiences with us to make sure everyone who wanted to contribute has a chance to do so. We’ve had a good response so far – with more people contacting us about this Inquiry than any we’ve previously held and the evidence we’ve received looks strong.
“The next phase of evidence gathering is already under way. We’ve set up hearings with representatives from different sectors, which will be carried out over the next few months and are on track to publish our findings in spring 2011.”
Source: Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission. It is the independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain. It aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people, and promote and protect human rights. The Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status, and encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act. It also gives advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals
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