Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, follows/retweets not endorsements. Anti-discrimination body, free advice and information on your rights under the law.
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Monica Wilson, an inspiring woman. Through her work as Chief Executive of
@disabililtyNI
, chair of
@niuse_tweets
and a commissioner with the Equality Commission we saw her vision, commitment and dedication to equality. Rest in peace,…
People in Northern Ireland have less protection than people anywhere else in the UK and Ireland. We need changes to our equality laws now.
Ask our politicians to make equality a priority.
22 October 1981 was the day the European Court of Human Rights said that the criminalisation of male homosexuality in NI was a human rights violation. 40 years ago, the case taken by
@JeffDudgeon
was the first at the ECHR to be decided in favour of LGB rights.
We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Lyra McKee, who was shot dead last night.Lyra spoke at our last LGBT Awareness Week event. She wrote extensively on good relations &equality, especially equal rights for LGB&T people. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
It is one year since the death of Lyra McKee, She wrote and spoke on good relations & equality, especially equal rights for LGB&T people. Our thoughts are with her family and friends today.
✨ We are delighted to announce
@DonnaTraynorTV
as the host of our Women in Northern Ireland conference on Tues, 5 March at the Europa Hotel Belfast. This conference looks into women’s experiences of life in Northern Ireland over the past 25 years. To book
It's Pride Day in Belfast!
Look out for us in the parade and visit our stall at Pride Village to say hello and find out more about how we can help protect your rights after Brexit.
#BelfastPride2023
#RightsAfterBrexit
#NoMatterWhat
🌈🏳️🌈
Today in 1995 the Disability Discrimination Act came into force in Northern Ireland. It was the first time disabled people here had legal redress against disability discrimination. It's unique in its positive action duty to consider (and make if possible) reasonable adjustments.
Evelyn Collins,
@EqualityNIChEx
, today welcomed one of our new commissioners, Dawn Purvis, to the Commission. A full list of commissioners including the new appointments here:
This Friday is
#CareDay18
@VOYPIC
, talking about children & young people in care. We say: Action is needed to ensure all looked after children are supported to achieve their full educational potential - p26 of our Age Policy Priorities
Listen as our Chief Commissioner, Geraldine McGahey, shares the Commission’s plans for
#BelfastPride
🌈 this Saturday, 29 July, and reminds us why it’s so important we show up to support our LGBTQIA+ community in Northern Ireland. Kirsty Mulholland, co-chair of
@belfastpride
,…
We've had a number of enquiries today about the updated face covering regulations. We've been in touch with
@healthdpt
about what consideration it has given to possible equality issues, including for people with disabilities
Updated guidance to service providers in the New Year.
Watch Joanne talk about potential unfair treatment because of her disability after Brexit.
@disabilityni
's Nuala Toman and our Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey share their views. No matter what, we are here to help protect your rights after Brexit ⬇️
Northern Ireland needs a Disability Forum now to ensure that disabled people are actively consulted and involved in decisions that affect them.
Read our recommendations to Government in our
#UNCRPD
report with
@NIHRC
👇
Great to catch up with colleagues from equality & human rights bodies across these islands today -
@EHRC
,
@ScotHumanRights
,
@NIHRC
,
@_IHREC
- and it's the first time all five organisations have been led by female commissioners or chairs. Useful discussion, thank you all.
Northern Ireland needs a robust disability strategy with a measurable action plan. We must also consider the possible effects of Brexit on equality and human rights protections for people with disabilities.
Read our recommendations to Government in our
#UNCRPD
report with
@NIHRC
…
Please read our statement in relation to the judgment given this morning by the Supreme Court in the case of Lee V Ashers Baking Company Limited and Others
An important and constructive meeting with
#UNCRPD
Rapporteurs, Laverne Jacobs and Rosemary Kayess, who thanked participants for their valuable insight into the challenges currently faced by people with disabilities in Northern Ireland, which included their experience of the…
Belfast student Kayla Hanna, who has type 1 diabetes, has been awarded £2,000 by Belfast County Court after security personnel employed by Eventsec Ltd confiscated a bottle of Lucozade from her at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. Read the press release:
It's Refugee Week. One of Britain's most famous refugees came here with his family from Zanzibar in 1964, fleeing the violence of the Zanzibar Revolution. Farrokh Bulsara met Roger Taylor and Brian May and the rest is history...
New podcast now available - Dr Noel Purdy
@StranCreu
& Dale Heaney
@Education_NI
join Maggie Taggart for the 3rd in our ‘Tackling inequalities in education’ podcast series. Interesting discussion on ‘A Fair Start’ report.
Search Equality Commission on any podcast platform.
Many congratulations to Stephen
@StevieHollywood
, this year's winner of the Equality Commission prize for best social policy student at
@UlsterUni
. Graduating today with 1st class Hons in Social Policy with Criminology, the George Mitchell prize & the Alexander Findlater award.
NI needs more disabled people in public appointments – we will all benefit from diversity on public boards – here is an opportunity to apply, Boardroom Apprentice applications are open now and close on 1 June more info
@disabilityni
@cedarfoundation
With restaurants, coffee shops and cafés due to reopen next week, we're calling on the hospitality sector and councils to consider creatively how people with a disability can access proposed new outdoor spaces.
@ImtacNI
@niuse_tweets
@disabilityni
EU funding for many projects which promote social inclusion, support equality & address the needs of disadvantaged & vulnerable people will end next year. We're urging Govt to put equality & good relations at the heart of its future funding policies:
👋 Join Geraldine McGahey, our Chief Commissioner, along with our staff, supporters, and friends TOMORROW as we participate in the
#BelfastPride
parade supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Northern Ireland 🏳️🌈
🛑 We’re also hosting a stall at Pride Village, so stop by to learn…
Read our latest press release on new guidance launched today - ‘Promoting Equality in Employment for Women Affected by the Menopause’ which we have produced with
@NIC_ICTU
and
@LRA_NIreland
On this UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, our Chief Commissioner, Geraldine McGahey, appeals to employers & service providers to use the reasonable adjustment duty for people with disabilities.
Read the press release here 👇
#IDPWD2023
We welcome the announcement by
@dptfinance
of changes to the building regulations that will make large accessible toilets for severely disabled people mandatory for new buildings in NI.
#inclusion
#UNCRPD
Fantastic to be walking in the Belfast Pride parade today to support our LGBTQIA+ community and to promote ‘Your rights after Brexit’.
Our stall has been busy today with lots of visitors - there’s still time to come visit us at the Pride Village.
#BelfastPride2023
…
Tomorrow is World Autism Awareness Day - did you know that the Disability Discrimination Act is there to protect people with autism from discrimination?
@AutismNIPAPA
Roisin Mallon tells delegates that childcare remains a major barrier to women in NI trying to access employment, there continues to be a lack of affordable & accessible childcare available here - Commission raised this in Geneva to the United Nations CEDAW Committee last month
New podcast released today as part of our 'Tackling inequalities in education' series. Michele Janes, CEO, Barnardo’s NI talks to Maggie Taggart about Barnardo’s work with refugee and Traveller families.
@BarnardosNI
Search Equality Commission on any podcast platform
Today's Women in Northern Ireland conference with
@ReclaimAgenda
and
@WRDA_team
is informative, engaging, inspiring and fun!
You can find out more about it in our press release here 👇
Follow this event on social media using the hashtag
#WomenInNI
This is Natasha, who after a decision from the Industrial Tribunals, is now free to speak out about her sexual harassment case against her former employer, the Bank of Ireland. Read about it here:
This morning's event to discuss the Future of ESF Disability Employment Services is just starting our Director of DMU Roisin Mallon will be speaking on the loss of EU Funding on groups & organisations in NI
@Mencap_NI
@LizK1988
Thank you to everyone who came to Equality House yesterday to celebrate, bid farewell and offer their best wishes to Evelyn Collins, as she prepares to step down as Chief Executive of the Equality Commission next week.
Discussing the many issues around women in politics and public life, including social media abuse, from left, Cllr Linzi McLaren, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, Kate Nicholl MLA and Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA.
We express our deepest condolences on the passing of Dame Joan Harbison. Joan was the first Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission from 1999 to 2005. She led with a passion for building a Northern Ireland that accommodated differences. We will remember her work to put…
Every one a star! Six
@BoardAppr
participants with our Policy Officer Naomi. Filming this morning to help promote diversity and inclusion on NI’s public appointments.
We thank Koulla Yiasouma,
@ShriekingGreek
outgoing Commissioner for Children and Young People, for her passionate and untiring work to promote and protect youth rights in Northern Ireland. Goodbye Koulla and good luck with whatever you decide to do next!
@nichildcom
It was a packed room for our event with
@NICVA
yesterday that revealed the devastating impact of the proposed budget cuts on the lives of people in Northern Ireland.
We listened to various speakers from the disability, age, and women's sectors, and heard the voices of those who…
Calling all women! Join us for our ‘Take the Next Step’ event – NI needs more women to apply for public appointments, we’re hosting this event with CPANI,
@WRDA_team
&
@ReclaimAgenda
on 18 Nov book your place here
Here's Claire McLoughlin, our last Boardroom Apprentice, talking about why she applied to us for a place. [mp4, 22s] This year's recruitment is now open, visit www.strictlyboardroom/apprentice for more details.
@BoardAppr
The Women in Work panel of
@tinamckenz
@GrainiaLong
,
@CatMcCusker
and Judith Gillespie considered questions from childcare, care of aging parents & the importance of support to the need for long-term funding and strategic planning.
As of 1st January 2021, the Equality Commission has begun its new role with
@NIHRC
overseeing the Government's commitment to protecting equality & human rights in a post-Brexit Northern Ireland
Watch Nuala Toman, Head of Policy at
@disabilityni
talk about the need to reform our disability discrimination laws - we were delighted to have Nuala join us as one of our panel of speakers during our 'View from the Advocates' session at our conference on law reform this week.
Launched earlier today - new guidance for employers and trade unions developed with
@LRA_NIreland
and
@NIC_ICTU
‘Promoting Equality in Employment for Women Affected by the Menopause’ read our press release here:
#RefugeeWeek2023
starts today & runs until Sun 25 Jun. Here is a reminder to
@ExecOfficeNI
that a Refugee Integration Strategy for NI needs to be progressed so that asylum seekers & refugees feel welcome, valued & safe here. Read our consultation response➡️
NI has the lowest rate of disabled people in employment in the UK.
Art 27 of
#UNCRPD
means they have a right to work & Govt shd be acting on this.
Disabled people have a contribution to make to the NI workforce.
This is a priority area for us.
#UNCRPD
Our Feile event this year is a discussion event on disability and employment. We were delighted to have
@castleDD
as a panellist alongside Edyth
@niuse_tweets
Christine
@belfastcc
and our Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey. Watch out for the event at Feile 5 August.
Our Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey & David Babington, CE of
@amhNI
, will be on BBC NI's Talkback programme shortly, talking about the impacts of the withdrawal of EU funding on vulnerable & disadvantaged people in NI.
@IncludeYouth
@WRDA_team
@cedarfoundation
@trianglePTE
No
@UlsterUni
graduation ceremony this year, but still a great pleasure to make our annual award for best overall UU student in Social Policy to
@JoshHam2198
. Well done Josh and well deserved for hard work and great results. Thanks to
@jd_trew
& A-M Gray.
This millionaire businesswoman and philanthropist arrived in Britain in 1939 as an unaccompanied child refugee. Dame Stephanie Shirley had a pioneering career in IT, & now devotes her time and money to philanthropy focusing on IT and autism
#RefugeeWeek
,
Congratulations
@Mencap_NI
this is a great project - we were delighted to work with you to showcase Warren and Bryan's story as an example of best practice as part of our work on Key Inequalities in Housing too
If you're a woman passionate about improving life for everyone in NI, one good way is to join a board in the public or voluntary/community sector. Come and let our speakers & panellists inspire and encourage you! Free. Book at
The Equality Commission is 20 years old this year. This 7 minute video gives an outline of what we do and why we do it, and looks forward to what we're planning for the next three years.
Statistics show 1 in 5 people in NI has a disability, yet only around 2% of public appointments are currently held by people with disabilities. Key inequalities in participation in public life.
New podcast available - with a wealth of experience as educators, school Principals Mary Montgomery & Chris Donnelly
@chrisadonnelly
discuss how engagement with pupil's families & local community can improve educational outcomes.
Listen here:
We were very pleased to welcome our new
@BoardAppr
apprentice Lai Pang to her first virtual Commission meeting today. We look forward to working with her over the next year!
We're delighted to have the supporting voice of the NW Forum for People with Disabilities & co-Chair of the Disability Employment Stakeholder Forum, Tony O'Reilly, on our call to respect the rights of people with disabilities in the return to work.
Our Feile event this year is a discussion event on disability and employment. We were delighted to have
@castleDD
as a panellist alongside Edyth
@niuse_tweets
Christine
@belfastcc
and our Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey. Watch out for the event at Feile 5 August.
Northern Ireland needs a disability employment strategy now. Many disabled people want to and need to work and have the skills and talents our economy needs. We must reduce the disability employment gap and assist disabled people to assert their rights.
Read our recommendations…
Northern Ireland needs more appropriate accommodation and related social care to meet the needs of disabled people, and an adequately resourced Independent Living Fund reopened for new claimants to help disabled people live independently.
Read our recommendations to Government…
Representatives from ethnic minority organisations arrive for their session with
@coe
Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Farrokh Bulsara left Zanzibar with his parents in 1964, when political revolution shook the island. While living in greater London, he met his future bandmates and went on to become one of the best known British singers ever. It's
#RefugeeWeek2018
Today is a day to think about those who have been killed or who’ve died by suicide because of transphobia & to remind ourselves of the continued prejudice & violence experienced by some of the transgender community.
#TDOR2018
Our Director of DMU Roisin Mallon is speaking at this morning's
@niuse_tweets
policy event at Parliament Buildings - The Future of European Social Fund Disability Employment Services - more info
We're proud of our colleague Shelley Maybin, who has been nominated Lawyer of the Week in The Times for her work on the case of Ava Moore v Debenhams Retail Ltd.
Today the delegation from NI including colleagues from
@EqualityCommNI
,
@NIHRC
and representatives from the disabled community are giving evidence to the
#UNCRPD
It's World Menopause Day - no better time to think about what employers can do to support women at work when they go through the menopause. Download the guidance here:
Today, we have issued a joint statement with
@nichildcom
and
@COPNI
about the impact of budget cuts on equality in Northern Ireland.
You can read the full statement here 👇
Today is the 103rd anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, giving some women the chance to vote for the first time ever. Here’s a timeline showing what led up to it and what happened after.
Childcare a major issue facing women in Northern Ireland- too expensive and hard to access for weekend and evening work - government need to support women into work
#CEDAW
We have concerns about the rights and protections under the law for women in NI, esp after Brexit. These will be included in a submission to the UN
#CEDAW
pre-sessional WG Cttee on Monday. We're asking the UN to raise these issues with the UK government.