Commission for Racial Equality - Commissioners

A body of between 8 and 15 individuals set up in England and Wales under the Race Relations Act (1976) to work towards the elimination of discrimination because of colour, race, nationality, or ethnic origin. The Commission, which is appointed by the home secretary under the 1976 Act, also works to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between racial groups. It is an offence to incite racial hatred, which includes using threatening behaviour or publishing threatening words, whether in writing, images, or sounds. Positive discrimination is a call to offset the effects of past bias by weighting opportunity in favour of ethnic minority groups. The Protection from Harassment Act (1997) also imposes penalties for racial harassment.

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which tackles racial discrimination and promotes racial equality. It was set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 and is the only body with statutory power to help enforce the act.

The Race Relations Act applies in England, Wales and Scotland. It does not apply in Northern Ireland, where the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 applies. The CRE's work covers all the areas where people are protected against discrimination under the Race Relations Act.

The main goals of the CRE are:

To encourage greater integration and better relations between people from different ethnic groups. To use its legal powers to help eradicate racial discrimination and harassment. To work with government and public authorities to promote racial equality in all public services. To support local and regional organisations, and employers in all sectors, in their efforts to ensure equality of opportunity and good race relations. To raise public awareness of racial discrimination and injustice, and to win support for efforts to create a fairer and more equal society.

The CRE organises the annual RIMA (Race in the Media) awards.

In 2006 the CRE launched a new free bimonthly publication on race issues, Catalyst Magazine. As long as the appropriate provisions are made, this is a reasonable request which should be recognised by all as it is in a particular place where there are issues of security and people need to be identified."Immigration staff can ask Muslim women to remove veils"

Commissioners

See also Category:Commissioners for Racial Equality

The CRE is run by up to 15 commissioners (including the chair), who are appointed by the Home Secretary.

Chair - Trevor Phillips Deputy chair - Kay Hampton

Commissioners as of June 2006

Carol Adams Khurshid Ahmed Mohammed Aziz Sir Colin Budd Julia Chain Dilwar Hussain Sir Dexter Hutt Sir Digby Jones Gloria Mills Cherry Short