Examination of Witnesses (Questions 80
- 82)
TUESDAY 9 JUNE 2009
MR PETER
FRANKENTAL, MS
JENNIFER ZERK,
MS EMILY
ARMISTEAD AND
MR RICHARD
MEERAN
Q80 John Austin: Do you think those
powers could be extended or are you referring to their wider powers
on promoting good practice and awareness?
Ms Zerk: Those powers could be
extended by primary legislation to turn the Equality and Human
Rights Commission into the kind of institution that CORE is seeking,
that would be possible. We actually think that because the issues
relating to human rights and business are so complex and specific
and there are so many different kinds of business impacts and
corporate sectors where these issues can arise that a specialist
institution is necessary.
Q81 John Austin: So you would need
a specialist commission?
Ms Zerk: Yes.
Q82 Lord Lester of Herne Hill: It
would not be realistic, would it, to give the Equality and Human
Rights Commission a transnational remit? It has already got to
deal with all the strands of discrimination plus the entire UK
human rights remit as well. It has got the greatest problems in
trying to deal with that mandate. If you saddled it with dealing
with discrimination abroad or other human rights of nations you
would probably risk blunting whatever remains of its cutting edge?
Ms Zerk: Yes, I would agree with
that and given the extraterritorial aspects and the special considerations
that are raised by lawyers and also the fact that we are talking
about a Commission that will focus in particular on the business
of human rights issues not human rights issues in general, we
really believe that a specialised Commission is necessary.
Chairman: I think that is all our questions.
Is there anything any of you want to add before we close your
part of the evidence session? Okay, great, thank you very much.
We will just adjourn for a couple of minutes while we swap our
panel over.
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