NORTHERN IRELAND is a markedly different place and rights are protected with a new importance, a special conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the Equality Commission has heard.
The conference discussed the record of the commission which replaced in a single organisation a plethora of rights bodies in Northern Ireland which existed before the Belfast Agreement.
In a video message, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said the commission’s work was helping Northern Ireland emerge from a divided past to a shared future in which equality for all is its bedrock. “Some see ‘equality’ as a threat: a zero sum game of winners and losers,” he said. “Others as too little too late to redress historic disadvantage, real and perceived. Both are wrong. Without equality you cannot have fairness and justice. And without fairness and justice, you cannot have long-term peace, stability and prosperity.” Evelyn Collins, chief executive of the commission, told the conference: “I believe we have been able to harness the benefits of the move to a single Equality Commission 10 years ago.”
She added: “The move has allowed us to mainstream equality and to maximise opportunities with stakeholders to make changes and to learn lessons from one area of equality work to the advantage of others. It is certainly easier for customers and stakeholders to come to one place for equality and good practice advice. In respect of our policy work, with our wider remit and the mainstreaming duties we have been able to promote a stronger, more holistic vision of change for the better.”
The conference also heard from Bruce Robinson, head of the Northern Ireland civil service; Belinda Pyke, a senior official from the European Commission, John Kremer of Queen’s University; and high court judge Mr Justice Weatherup.
