Our Vision and Mission
Our mandate
Parliament gave the Commission the mandate to challenge discrimination, and to protect and promote human rights.
Our vision
We live in a country with a long history of upholding people’s rights, valuing diversity and challenging intolerance. The EHRC seeks to maintain and strengthen this heritage while identifying and tackling areas where there is still unfair discrimination or where human rights are not being respected.
Our mission
A catalyst for change and improvement on equality and human rights.
Our roles
- Outcomes-focused strategic regulator
- Promoter of standards and good practice
- Authoritative centre of intelligence and innovation
- Trusted partner
Strategic plan 2015 - 2016
Find out more about our Strategic plan 2015 - 2016.
The Commission will publish its new 3 year Strategic Plan for 2016-19 in early 2016.
What we do and how we do it: the Commission's remit
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006. It operates independently to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and promote and protect human rights.
The Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and is accredited by the UN as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution.
Where we work
The Commission covers Great Britain i.e. England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland. We have offices in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a regional presence in nine offices in England and one in North Wales. For details of how to get in touch with us, see our contact us page .
EHRC Framework document
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a new framework document which sets out its relationship with government and how it operates as an independent Arms Length Body (ALB).
The framework document has been drawn up in partnership with the Department for Media Culture and Sport. It has been developed to be consistent with the provisions of the Equality Act 2006, which enshrines the operational independence of the Commission.
The document details how the Commission operates in areas such as spending controls, recruitment and answering parliamentary questions in way that ensures it is able to fulfil its statutory functions while remaining fully accountable for its corporate performance and use of public funds.
Read the overarching principles document
Read the letter from the Minister for Women and Equalities
Last Updated: 14 Jan 2016