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The Office for Disability Issues (ODI):
The government's strategy for disabled people rests on a solid foundation of comprehensive and enforceable civil rights. The ODI is responsible for developing and ensuring the effective implementation of disability equality legislation.
In the past year, the government has taken the significant step of signing the United Nations (UN) Convention on Disability Rights (The proper title of the convention is the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; however, we do not use this title in the UK). This is the first international human rights treaty of the 21st century. The Convention covers areas such as the right to life, access to justice, to personal mobility, to health, to education and to work and employment.
A human rights treaty or `Convention' is an international agreement made between countries that sets out their obligations to protect and advance people's rights. Countries that ratify or accede to it are agreeing that their laws, policies and practices will conform to the standards set out in the Convention.
The new Convention will enable the estimated 650 million disabled people in the world to access existing human rights on the same basis as non-disabled people. It complements other UN Human Rights Treaties for specific groups, such as women and children.
The ODI co-ordinated activity across government to ensure the UK was among the first countries to sign the Convention when it opened for signature on 30 March 2007. Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, signed the Convention at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. The ODI is now working towards its ratification.
The ODI is also promoting the UK's approach to disability within Europe. The ODI is also active in the European Commission's High Level Group on Disability. This ensures that the European Commission, the Member States of the European Community and disabled people's organisations can regularly exchange views on all aspects of European policy that affect disabled people. It has also helped develop the Council of Europe's ten-year action plan on disability. This is intended to help Member States implement the UN Convention.
The ODI is working to ensure the Duty makes a real difference in the way public bodies operate. Apart from the work detailed elsewhere in this report, the ODI has responsibility for keeping legal regulations and the list of public bodies required to publish a Disability Equality Scheme up to date.
By 1 December 2008 certain Secretaries of State must publish a disability equality progress report on public authorities in their policy sector. Each report must set out action plans which will enable public authorities to bring about further progress on disability equality. The ODI has produced guidance for departments on the production of Secretary of State Reports which is intended to supplement the Statutory Code of Practice produced by the Disability Rights Commission.
The new Equality and Human Rights Commission began its work in October. It has replaced the Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission. The Commission aims to tackle discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, religion or belief and age, and the promotion and protection of human rights.
The ODI was an influential member of the cross-government team working to establish the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
A statutory Disability Committee has delegated responsibility for an extensive range of functions relating to what are termed `disability matters' and mainstreaming disability throughout the Commission's activities. The Committee's first Chair is Baroness Jane Campbell. She works closely with the Transition Commissioner from the Disability Rights Commission, Sir Bert Massie.
The aim of the Discrimination Law Review is to achieve a simplification of legislation which is clearer to understand and more effective at tackling disadvantage.
The ODI has responsibility for current anti-discrimination legislation relating to disabled people. It has helped government take forward the review, which was initially led by Communities and Local Government.
A consultation paper, 'A Framework for Fairness' was published in June this year and supported by events around the country. The paper set out the government's proposals for improving anti-discrimination legislation and creating a clearer and more streamlined legal framework for equality. Government will publish its response to the consultation shortly.
Page last reviewed: 11 August 2008