The Equality Act 2006 established the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The EHRC came into being in October 2007 with a mission to champion equality and human rights and enforce anti-discrimination laws.

Britain’s three equality commissions - the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission, and, in time, the Commission for Racial Equality - will be incorporated into the new body. It will support new legislation outlawing discrimination based on age, religion, belief and sexual orientation.

We hope the Commission will embrace the human rights vision of equality. We also hope that it will provide an educational and informational role, bridging the gap between human rights litigation in the courts and public awareness.