A call for authorities to do more to address disability related harassment

After its ground breaking inquiry into disability related harassment in 2011, which highlighted failings on the part of public authorities and transport operators to prevent such harassment, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a follow-up report. Although the report recognises that some action has been taken by some authorities to tackle disability related harassment, it also reveals that not enough, or in some cases nothing at all, is being done in this field.

The Commission makes recommendations in 7 strategies areas that need to be addressed to effectively tackle disability harassment. For more information see the full report ‘Out in the open: manifesto for change’.

New careers education resource for primary school children

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched a new educational resource, Equal Choices, Equal Chances, to help teachers challenge any stereotypical ideas which pupils may already have started to form around the world of work. The resource will help pupils explore different career opportunities and understand that race, faith, gender or disability need not necessarily stand in the way of pursuing their career choices.

The resource is available on the EHRC website.

Welcome to our Equality & diversity in Portsmouth blog

We hope you enjoy our new blog. Please let us know what you think about it by rating it on the right hand side of this page and / or posting your comment below.

How do you find information about independent living services?

Portsmouth Independent Living Network (PILN) and the University of Portsmouth’s PEOPPLE Project are carrying out a survey to find out what information people in Portsmouth need and where and how they would prefer to find it.

PILN is a developing network of people who are experts by experience and whose aim is to successfully represent Portsmouth’s diverse community of people who use health and social care services. What you tell us in this survey will help us provide an information service – both online and offline – to make sure you can easily find out what you need to know to help you live independently.

Whether you currently use health and social care services, look after someone who does or have tried to look for information on these services, we want to hear from you. Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PXQ96V9.

Third party harassment provisions in the Equality Act 2010 to be repealed

Currently, employers are liable for harassment of their employees by third parties such as clients or customers. Despite the wide discontent with the proposals to repeal these legal provisions expressed via public consultation, the Government has decided to implement those them. For details of consultation and the government’s response, go the Home Office website.

 

The European Court of Human Rights judgement offers more protection for disabled people from hate crime

The recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in a case of long-term disability related harassment of a young Serbian man offers some hope of additional recourse to justice for disabled people who are subjected to hate crime.

In the case of  Đorđević v Croatia – 41526/10 – HEJUD [2012] ECHR 1640  the court decided that Croatian state failed to stop disability harassment that amounted to degrading treatment. The disabled person who suffered persistent physical and mental harassment because of his disability and race was let down by a number of public authorities who provided inadequate response to prevent the continued physical violence and mental tormenting.

For more information on the case and commentary, please go the Government Lawyer website.

Reasonable adjustments for pupils with disabilities in schools

The Equality Act 2010 contains a duty on schools to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils and this duty now extends to the provision by a school of auxiliary aids and services. The purpose of the duty is “to avoid as far as possible by reasonable means, the disadvantage which a disabled pupil experiences because of their disability.” For more information and technical guidance for schools and educational authorities on auxiliary aids please go to the Equality and Human Rights website.

Age discrimination ban in services comes into force

On 1st October 2012, the Government introduced new law provisions banning age discrimination in the provision of services and the performance of public functions. The ban means that it is now unlawful for public bodies and service providers to treat people unfavourably because of their age unless one of the exceptions applies.

The new law applies to adults only and is considered a positive step towards tackling discrimination against older people in many fields including healthcare, social care and financial services.

For more information, please visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission's website.

Launch of Disabled-Go guide in Portsmouth

Portsmouth City Council has signed up with DisabledGo, one of the largest disability organisations in Europe that produces online access guides for people with disabilities. The aim is to provide impartial information about accessibility of various community venues. This will enable Portsmouth residents as well as visitors to make informed choices about accessing leisure, education, employment and services in the city.

The Disabled-Go guide to accessible venues in Portsmouth was launched on 14^th November 2012.

If you would like to find out more about Disabled-Go guide, please visit http://www.disabledgo.com/. 

Check our new PCC equality & diversity web pages

We have recently updated our Equality & diversity web pages. The pages now explain the Council’s commitment to equality and current Equality law, and provide useful information for individual protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. You can view the pages at: http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/yourcouncil/equality-and-diversity.html.

We would very much welcome your feedback. If you would like to give us your comments about our new web pages, please complete this short online survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pccequality.

 If you need this survey in an alternative format, please contact us.

New consultation guidance

We have just published our updated Consultation guidance, which incorporates the new consultation principles published by the Cabinet Office. The guidance is an essential tool for lawful and meaningful public consultation providing advice on, amongst many others, who to consult, methods of consulting, questions to ask and the use of SurveyMonkey.

The new guidance can be found on our PCC pages.