We've not forgotten...

Thursday 19 March 2020

Other areas of discrimination will not be forgotten and will be set as a priority for future anti-discrimination legislation, if the current proposals are accepted by the States.

A debate is due to be held next month, which could see Guernsey's government approving anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of disability, carer status, and race.

A number of people have expressed concerns about sexuality and gender not being included in that list.

Updating the States on her committee's work, the President of the Committee for Employment and Social Security yesterday said the work so far had been "one of the Committee's highest, and most resource intensive, priorities during this term" and that other areas have not been forgotten.

Deputy Michelle Le Clerc said: "While the Committee's original consultation included ten grounds of protection, the decision was made in November to scale back and refocus on a smaller number of grounds, as there was a significant amount of additional work that was required to make changes following the feedback gained through the extensive consultation process.

"The other grounds of protection have not been forgotten. The proposals also seek approval for the future development of discrimination legislation on the grounds of age, religious belief, sexual orientation and for further work to be undertaken to extend existing protection on grounds relating to sex."

Pictured: Discrimination legislation will be brought in in phases in Guernsey. 

The discrimination legislation has been delayed anyway after kickback from the business community, which wanted more time to consult on the issue. Deputy Le Clerc said that feedback has all been taken on board.

"We've worked extremely hard to find a compromise solution that takes into consideration some of the main concerns from the business community, while ensuring the legislation still delivers its objective of protecting people from discrimination.

"The reality is that discrimination does happen in Guernsey and we have a responsibility to those islanders whose rights remain unprotected to bring in discrimination legislation without further delay. Discrimination legislation will play a vital role in fulfilling the promise made in the Policy and Resources Plan to make Guernsey a place where everyone has equal opportunity to achieve their potential."

Pictured top: Deputy Michelle Le Clerc.