Targeting London Policy.
Race on the Agenda (ROTA) is a social policy think tank set up in April 1997 to take over from Greater London Action on Race Equality which started in 1984. We are a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Membership is free.
We work with London's Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities and others interested in race equality,
towards achieving social justice by the elimination of discrimination and promotion of human rights, diversity and equality
of opportunity. We achieve these aims by informing London's strategic decision-makers about the issues affecting the BAME
third sector and the communities it serves and by making government policy more accessible to London's BAME organisations.
ROTA uses the term BAME to refer to all groups who are discriminated against on the grounds of their race, culture, colour or nationality.
MiNet the regional BAME network of networks joined ROTA in 2002. Its focus is on strengthening the voice for London's BAME third sector in the development of regional policy.
We have facilitated HEAR the Equalities and Human Rights Sub-group of the ChangeUp London Regional Consortium since January 2005. Its focus is on issues affecting London’s Equalities and Human Rights (EHR) third sector organisations.
Key Issues.
ROTA focuses on issues where we can have most impact. Our current priority policy areas are:BAME communities contribute greatly to London's success. But sadly for the 42% of the 7 ½ million Londoners’ from BAME backgrounds equality has not yet been achieved. If looking at employment where BAME unemployment rates are double that of their White British counterparts; health where BAME people have higher rates of limiting long term illness or any area of public policy – the need for ROTA’s evidence based policy and research is clear.