Discrimination

Overall aim

Action is in place to end unlawful discrimination and disability hate crime and raise awareness with regard to fostering respect for, and promoting the abilities of, disabled people to improve society's attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people.

Achievements from 2005 to 2009

• Disability Discrimination Act (external link) was introduced in 2005, promoting civil rights for disabled people and protecting disabled people from discrimination.
• In 2006 Equality 2025 (external link) was established, a non-departmental public body of disabled people whose remit is to put disabled people's views directly to the government and influence policies and services at an early stage.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (external link) opened, a milestone along the road to a fairer, more equal Britain.
• The UN Convention and optional protocol (external link) was ratified by the United Kingdom in 2009.

Next steps on our strategy

• We will be working to raise awareness of the UN Convention (external link) and developing plans to monitor and report on its progress.
• The Equality Bill is being introduced to streamline and strengthen discrimination legislation, to make Britain a stronger, fairer place.
• The cross-government Hate Crime Steering Group has been formed and is steering actions outlined in the Hate Crime Action Plan (external link), published in September 2009.
• The government is working on a legacy for disabled people following the Games in 2012, including promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people.

• Article 8 - awareness raising
• Article 11 - situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies
• Article 14 - liberty and security of person
• Article 15 - freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment
• Article 16 - freedom from exploitation, violence or abuse
• Article 17 - protecting the integrity of the person
• Article 18 - liberty of movement and nationality
• Article 22 - respect for privacy

• 1.1 (awareness building and attitude changing programme to create support for an independent living approach).

While only one of the individual commitments directly links to this theme, the overall aim of the strategy supports an end to unlawful discrimination and an improvement in society's attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people.