The
Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 has ensured that racial equality is now a
major consideration for bodies operating throughout the public sector and
central government, according to the Commission for Racial Equality’s annual
report.
The
CRE claims there is clear evidence of progress particularly in reporting and
recording racist incidents and says that there has been increased awareness
among public bodies of the potential for discrimination in employment and
service delivery.
As
a result of the amendment the outlawing of discrimination has been extended and
all public authorities have a statutory duty to promote racial equality aimed
at eliminating institutional racism.
But
it warns that there is no room for complacency as racial equality remains far
too down the agenda for many public authorities.
It
adds that auditing and inspection bodies will be crucial in establishing
whether the public sector is meeting its obligations.
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Gurbux
Singh, chair of the CRE, said, “We have been, and remain, determined to seize
the moment to make the fullest possible use of our new powers in relation to
the public sector and to influence the private sector to bring about real and
lasting change.”
