EHRC announces race and coronavirus inquiry

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced it will use its legal powers to hold an inquiry into the impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities. The decision comes, it says, after the pandemic shone a light on long-standing, structural race inequality, and raised serious issues that have yet to be answered.

The EHRC promised an in-depth analysis to develop evidence-based recommendations for urgent action to tackle entrenched racial inequalities. The first step will be to meet race equality leaders to discuss proposals for an inquiry.

EHRC chair David Isaac explained: “Now is a once in a generation opportunity to tackle long-standing entrenched racial inequalities. We intend to use our statutory powers to address the loss of lives and livelihoods of people from different ethnic minorities.

“This inquiry is part of our long-term strategic approach to tackle the structural inequalities that the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare. This is an important step towards ensuring that the deep-rooted inequality faced by ethnic minorities is meaningfully addressed as we rebuild.”

The announcement received a swift welcome from Dave Prentis, general secretary of the UNISON public service union, who said: “It’s right that the EHRC investigates the deep inequalities in British society that the Covid-19 pandemic has further exposed.”

https://equalityhumanrights.com/en/our-work/news/inquiry-impact-coronavirus-ethnic-minorities