Agenda 31 (Winter 2007).
Coordinating the Equality Agenda
Moira Dustin, Equality and Diversity Forum
Established in 2002, the Equality and Diversity Forum is a network of national organisations working together to promote equality and human rights.
Five years ago, when the Equality and Diversity Forum (EDF) started, there were already many organisations working to promote equality and human rights, and prevent discrimination in Britain. These included the statutory commissions on disability, gender and race; non-statutory organisations such as Stonewall and Fawcett championing gay and women’s rights; human rights organisations like Liberty and JUSTICE; advice agencies and legal service providers; and policy-focussed organisations including those working at a regional level like Race On The Agenda (ROTA). Perhaps most important were the many small voluntary and community organisations around the country providing services on the ground to improve individuals’ daily lives. Such organisations have developed enormous experience and expertise in specific fields of discrimination, often over many years. There will always be a need for bodies campaigning on single issues and providing dedicated services. What was missing was recognition of the linkages between different forms of inequality and human rights, and a space for organisations to work together in common cause, when useful. This has been the space filled by EDF.
The catalyst for change came from Europe. In 2000, the Employment and Race Directives required European Union member states to make discrimination unlawful in the areas of race, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age, thus...
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