Winning the Race Coalition: Campaigning for a strong Single Equality Bill and Race Equality Legislation

About the Winning the Race Coalition

In February 2009, ROTA formed a national coalition of equality organisations to influence and inform the Single Equality Bill and increase awareness around it and other equality and race equality legislation.

The Coalition was set up with the support of other Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) organisations such as Voice4Change England and the Runnymede Trust. The Coalition sits within ROTA which is its accountable body. The activities are scrutinised by the Coalition Action Group, members of which are: BECON, MENTER, Voice4Change England, the Runnymede Trust, the Federation of Irish Societies, Equanomics and BSWN.

Our focus is primarily on race equality and the discrimination faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups. However, the coalition's creation aims to make the argument for cross-equality and human rights issues where appropriate. Our recommendations are underpinned by the following principles:

• Equality and race equality is a human right;
• Any new legislation, including the Single Equality Bill, should strengthen existing equality legislation and provide consistent, clear and enforceable standards that are user friendly and accessible;
• Any new equality legislation, including the Single Equality Bill, will need to acknowledge persistent inequalities, such as those faced by Britain's BAME groups, and enable victims to have easily accessible remedies through fair, inexpensive and expeditious procedures;
• Any new equality legislation, including the Single Equality Bill, will need to acknowledge that to achieve race equality and eliminate discrimination there needs to be a holistic approach that takes into consideration the different roles of public, private and third sector organisations, and the support needed by those working in these three different environments.

Equality organisations and individuals with an interest in the coalition's objective and principles are welcome to apply to become members. For further information contact Dr Elizabeth Henry, elizabeth@rota.org.uk.