EHRC 2022-25 Strategic Plan Consultation Analysis

About the consultation

We supported the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) by analysing responses to a recent public consultation on their proposed 2022-25 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan will guide how the EHRC protects and promotes equality and human rights through the next three years.

The consultation, which was open for responses during August and September 2021, asked for feedback from respondents on the EHRC’s proposed areas of focus:

  1. Fairness in a changing workplace

  2. Fairness for children and young people.

  3. Upholding rights and equality in health and social care.

  4. Artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies.

  5. Fostering good relations, promoting respect between groups, and understanding of rights.

  6. Upholding an effective framework for protecting equality and human rights.

Our approach to analysing responses

To inform the EHRC’s final Strategic Plan, we analysed 888 complete and partial responses to the consultation on its draft plan, both from individuals and organisation respondents from across the UK. Our team carried out qualitative and quantitative analysis of responses, including identifying key themes raised in responses to open-ended questions. We developed a codebook recording all qualitative themes identified by respondents to summarise the views of respondents and evidence that each response had been considered.

Key findings from the consultation

Our analysis showed that there was generally a high level of support from respondents for the proposed areas of strategic focus. Additionally, the following issues were raised by respondents as key overarching themes:

  1. Sex and gender - many respondents referred to tensions between sex-based rights and gender reassignment, raising issues such as the need for more single-sex spaces and data to be recorded by sex.

  2. The impact of the pandemic - several respondents suggested that the EHRC should strengthen the language they used to describe the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on equality and human rights, particularly amongst protected groups.

  3. The EHRC’s role and remit - respondents suggested the EHRC should use its regulatory powers more actively and effectively, with some urging the EHRC to define its role more clearly as an independent National Human Rights Institution.

The EHRC’s final Strategic Plan and consultation report can be found here.

 
alma economicsCONSULTATION, HUMAN RIGHTS