Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Today I met the new Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson. Dr Stephenson brings a wealth of experience, with over 30 years of working on equality and human rights issues in the UK and internationally, including more than 20 years at board and CEO level.
Dr Stephenson will play a vital role going forward over the next four years as the EHRC continues to champion equality and fairness, holding others to account, and providing guidance and direction where needed to shape a Britain we all hope for.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an independent statutory body responsible for promoting and encouraging equality and diversity, eliminating unlawful discrimination, and protecting and promoting the human rights of everyone in Britain.
The EHRC enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation – these are known as protected characteristics.
I want to thank EHRC Wales for their Equality and Human Rights Commission Wales Impact Report 2024 to 2025.
This report shows the full range of the EHRC’s work to protect and promote equality and human rights and make Wales a fairer nation. It is the final impact report of the EHRC Strategic plan 2022-2025 and reflects sustained effort over this period to address inequalities in six priority areas:
- Equality in a changing workplace
- Equality for children and young people
- Upholding rights and equality in health and social care
- Addressing the equality and human rights impacts of digital services and artificial intelligence
- Fostering good relations and promoting respect between groups
- Ensuring an effective legal framework to protect equality and human rights
I am very grateful for the invaluable work of EHRC Wales and which is so well reflected in their Impact Report. I want to thank the Commission in Wales for their continued leadership and commitment to equality and human rights in Wales. The Welsh Government continues to maintain our strong focus on embedding equality and human rights in all we do and to achieving our aims under our Welsh Government Strategic Equality and Human Rights Plan 2025-2029.
The Strategic Equality and Human Rights Plan sets out our commitment to taking forward our National Equality Objectives (NEOs) and Long-term Aim – Wales is a nation based on equity, anti-discrimination, and inclusion, through strengthening and advancing equality and human rights. It also reinforces our commitment to raising awareness of everyone’s human rights, and how they can exercise those rights.
I look forward to building a strong relationship with Dr. Stephenson and her team as we take action to achieve our shared aim on achieving our wellbeing goal of ‘a more equal Wales’.