The Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equal Opportunities Commission (‘EOC’) was the body set up under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (‘SDA’) to promote equality and work towards elimiation discrimination, and to keep the SDA and Equal Pay Act under review. In October 2007 the EOC became part of the Equaltiy and Human Rights Commission, which brough toguether all the equality bodies. The EHRC has the following powers:

• To undertake formal investigations into discriminatory practices which are unsuitable to be dealt with on an individual basis.
  
• To support, including financially, individuals taking up complaints of discrimination.
  
• To issue Codes of Practice on employment. These are not legally binding but can be used in evidence at an Employment Tribunal.
  
• To examine areas of policy outside the scope of the Sex Discrimination Act, for example, social security, taxation, maternity rights.
  
• To issue non-discrimination notices. This happens if the Equal Opportunities Commission decides as a result of a formal investigation that the law has been broken.
  
• To fund research and educational activities.
  
• To apply for an injunction if it believes someone has broken the law and is likely to go on doing so. In the following circumstances, it is the EOC alone which can take action such as applying for an injunction if discrimination has taken place:
  

(a) If an advertisement demonstrates an intention to discriminate unlawfully.
(b) If someone instructs an employee or agent to discriminate unlawfully.
(c) If someone puts pressure on anyone else to discriminate unlawfully.