Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes Caste in Britain reports

4th March 2014

Dalit Solidarity Network UK welcomes the publication of the EHRC reports on 28 February 2014.

The two reports confirm that caste discrimination “cannot be tolerated and should be included in the protections against discrimination and harassment provided in the Equality Act 2010”. The reports also question the proposed sunset clause : “for a non-discrimination ground is legally without precedent and goes against this key differential”

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publications/our-research/research-reports/research-reports-91-100/

The next stage of the Government’s long and drawn out timetable is the consultation planned for March 2014 seeking further views from stakeholders and the public.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/caste-discrimination-legislation-timetable

The GEO having received these reports early in January 2014 has already had six weeks to draft the questions for the consultation. This will be followed by a draft Affirmative Order in Autumn 2014 before the legislation passed in June 2013 that caste should be an aspect of race for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 is implemented.

We urge the UK Government to make this a reality before Spring 2015 in order to protect the victims and potential victims of caste-based discrimination in Britain.