The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (RRA) is the most radical piece of race relations legislation in nearly 25 years, according to Jack Straw.
It builds on some of the themes raised in the Stephen Lawrence inquiry and seeks to tackle institutional racial discrimination. The public sector will be the arena within which the existence of racial imbalances in organisations will be systematically exposed.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the act is revealed in the Government’s statement that the RRA 2000 is part of a developing framework for greater equality. This objective could lead to a reconstruction of the workplace landscape.
A consultation document available on www.homeoffice.gov.uk/raceact/welcome.htm (a well-written document of admirable clarity) seeks to obtain views on a number of issues and also clarifies aspects of the act.
Main provisions
The main provisions of the act impose the following duties on public authorities:
the avoidance of racial discrimination in carrying out any function;
a general duty on scheduled public authorities listed in schedule 1A to the act to work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination and promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different racial groups;
specific duties on some public authorities to going beyond the general duty; and
the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) will have the power to issue codes of practice to provide practical guidance to public authorities on how to fulfil their general and specific duties and special enforcement powers.
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