Previous 5 / 13 Next

E/C.12/GBR/CO/6 Equality Act 22. While welcoming the adoption of the Equality Act 2010, the Committee is concerned that some of its provisions, particularly those relevant for enhancing the protection of economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination, are not yet in force, such as the duty of public authorities to consider socioeconomic disadvantage in decision-making processes and the prohibition of intersectional discrimination. The Committee also regrets that, despite its previous recommendation, the Equality Act 2010 is not applicable in Northern Ireland and does not explicitly include all prohibited grounds of discrimination, such as national or social origin (art. 2 (2)). 23. The Committee recommends that the State party bring into force the relevant provisions of the Equality Act that refer to the public authorities’ duty with respect to socioeconomic disadvantage, as well as with respect to the prohibition of intersectional discrimination, in order to enhance and guarantee full and effective protection against discrimination in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee recalls its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 16) and urges the State party to provide the same access to an independent equality body and a similar level of protection to rights holders with regard to all grounds of discrimination for all individuals in all jurisdictions of the State party, including Northern Ireland. In this respect, the Committee draws the attention of the State party to its general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights. Asylum seekers 24. The Committee is concerned about the challenges faced by asylum seekers in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly those that are due to restrictions in accessing employment and the insufficient level of support provided through the daily allowance (art. 2 (2) and (11)). 25. The Committee recommends that the State party increase the level of support provided to asylum seekers, including through the daily allowance, in order to ensure that they enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the right to an adequate standard of living. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 27) and encourages the State party to ensure that asylum seekers are not restricted from accessing employment while their claims are being processed. Equality between men and women 26. The Committee is concerned about persistent underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions in the public and private sectors. While noting the duty of public authorities to report gender inequalities and the implementation of the Think, Act, Report initiative, the Committee is concerned about the significant gender pay gap, particularly in Scotland (art. 3). 27. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Intensify its efforts to increase the level of representation of women in decision-making positions, in both the public and private sectors; (b) Adopt effective measures to eliminate the persistent gender pay gap, including by addressing the significant vertical and horizontal gender-based segregation in the labour market, which results in women occupying lower-paid positions and facing obstacles to their enjoyment of career opportunities on an equal footing with men; 5

Select target paragraph3

● ● ●

Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Concluding Observations

Preview

Country

United Kingdom

Rights Involved

Right to adequate housing
Right to adequate standard of living
Right to education
Right to food
Right to health
Right to social security
Right to water and sanitation
Right to work
Rights of migrants/non-citizens
Rights of older persons
Rights of persons with disabilities
Rights of the child
Rights of women and girls

Issue

Accountability
Extraterritorial obligations
Non-discrimination
Participation
Progressive realization
Resource allocation
Resource generation

International Human Rights Body

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Date: Jul 14, 2016

Summary: In their Concluding Observations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the CESCR provides recommendations to the State party to take measures to promote non-discrimination, gender equality, and the range of ESCR. On tax policy, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Conduct a human rights impact assessment of the recent changes introduced to its fiscal policy; (b) Ensure that its fiscal policy is adequate, progressive and socially equitable and improves tax collection so as to increase resources available for implementing economic, social and cultural rights; (c) Take strict measures to tackle tax abuse, in particular by corporations and high-net-worth individuals; (d) Intensify its efforts, in coordination with its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, to address global tax abuse. On austerity, the Committee reminds the State party of its obligations under the Covenant to use the maximum of its available resources with a view to progressively achieving the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee recommends that the State party review its policies and programmes introduced since 2010 and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the cumulative impact of these measures on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups, in particular women, children and persons with disabilities, that is recognized by all stakeholders.

Primary Documents

E:C.12:GBR:CO:6.pdf
English
Download View

Resourcing Rights

Select target paragraph3

Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Primary Documents

Notifications