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1st UPR session
Date of review: 14 April 2008
Date of report adoption: 23 May 2008
Document number: A/HRC/8/25
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SUMMARY SOGIESC issues during United Kingdom’s 1st UPR review |
I. SOGIESC issues/recommendations identified by NGOs
Equality and non-discrimination
10. The CRAE [Children’s Rights Alliance for England] highlighted that lesbian, gay and bisexual people (including children) have recently gained new protection with the passing of The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007, which make it unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods, facilities and services on grounds of sexual orientation. The Government announced in 2007 its plan to introduce legal protection from incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.
II. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues from the national report
B: Country Background National Human Rights Commissions
14. The EHRC [Equality and Human Rights Commission] was established on 1 October 2007. Its remit is to champion equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights, and build good relations between communities, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society. Its remit extends to England and Wales and Scotland. The EHRC brings together the work of Great Britain’s three previous equality commissions (for racial equality, gender equality, and the rights of disabled people) and also takes on responsibility for new strands of discrimination law (age, sexual orientation and religion or belief), as well as human rights. It has powers to enforce equality legislation, and has a mandate to encourage compliance with the Human Rights Act.
C: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Other Protections Equality Legislation
36. In Great Britain, several pieces of legislation to prohibit discrimination have been enacted over the past 40 years. The first was the Race Relations Act 1965 (now repealed and replaced by the Race Relations Act 1976), followed by the Equal Pay Act 1970, and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was introduced in 1995. Further legislation was introduced in 2003 and 2006 to prohibit discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, religion or belief and age in employment and vocational training, in order to implement the European Framework Directive. Discrimination on grounds of religion or belief and sexual orientation outside the workplace was prohibited in 2007.
III. Excerpts on SOGIESC issues by UN agencies
No references.
IV. References to SOGIESC issues during the Working Group review
15. Belgium welcomed the establishment in 2007 of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. It particularly welcomed that the Commission is responsible, inter alia, to combat discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation. […]
30. The Netherlands […] welcomed the United Kingdom’s inclusion of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in human rights legislation, and its plans to introduce legal protection from incitement to hatred on this ground. It also commended United Kingdom on its recent decision not to deport a young gay person to a country which maintains the death penalty for homosexuality, and hoped the United Kingdom would continue to follow the Yogyakarta Principles in future cases.
32. […] With regard to sexual orientation as a ground for asylum-seeking, Canada recommended to the United Kingdom to follow the Council of the European Union “Asylum Qualification Directive” in future cases.
V. Conclusions and/or recommendations
The United Kingdom accepted the following recommendations:
18. Follow the Council of the European Union Asylum Qualification Directive in future cases with regard to sexual orientation as a ground for asylum-seeking (Canada).
VI. Further information
You will find all documents relating to the United Kingdom’s first review at UPR-Info and OHCHR’s websites.