recent and ongoing work
CAJ continues to respond to consultations relating to equality issues
generally. Recently, we have submitted responses to the consultations on
the cross-departmental strategies for children and young people, and gender
inequality, both published by the OFMDFM. Other responses have included the
consultation on water reform, the Draft Civil Service Bill, and the
Unauthorized Encampments Order.
One of the major consultations carried out over the past year has been the Government review of community relations, contained in the document, 'A Shared Future'. CAJ very much welcomed the decision by OFMDFM (the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister) to carry out this review, as we believe that there is much room for improvement in relation to how government addresses the issue of 'community relations', and we produced quite a lengthy response (119kb)
to this document focusing on the contribution that a human rights and equality based approach can make to better community relations.
Another key document issued for consultation over the past year was the Review of Public Administration. In particular, CAJ argued in our response that any decisions regarding the future for public administration must take into account the importance of participative democracy, equality-proofing and employment practicies (given the disproportionate number of Catholic females employed in this sector.)
In addition to the Section 75 work, CAJ continues to argue for a comprehensive Single Equality Bill (see also CAJ Submission S113). It should of course be pointed out that some three years on since we were first promised a comprehensive single equality bill, there is still no sign of legislation on the horizon. An expert group has been established to advise on these matters and will publish a green paper for consultation in the summer of 2004.
In addition to enacting the legislation, CAJ also argued strongly in our submission for the need to ensure that resources were provided which would allow for redress by those protected by such legislation. Indeed, over the past year, there have been well-documented problems with regard to how cases are funded by the Equality Commission, with a number of individuals receiving notification that assistance in their cases was to be withdrawn - in some instances this occurred shortly before the case was due to be heard. Clearly, only when litigants are in a position to enforce the protections they have been provided in law, can such protects be deemed worthwhile.
See list of CAJ's Equality Responses
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