Review of the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 - Consultation Document
Review of the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 - Consultation Document - Children's VersionThe Executive’s Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 provides a framework for Government departments to tackle racial inequalities and to promote and encourage good race relations and social cohesion for Irish Travellers, minority ethnic people whose families have been here a number of generations or who have recently arrived, migrant workers and asylum seekers. The Racial Equality Strategy committed us to reviewing the Order to offer at least equal, if not better, protection compared to the Equality Act 2010 and various equivalent legislation in Ireland. We have also taken into account changes proposed by the Equality Commission in their Race Law Reform document.
The Executive Office has been working and engaging with key stakeholders and has developed proposals for amendments to the current order to create a brand-new draft Racial Equality Bill.
The proposed changes have now been officially opened for wider public consultation by TEO’s Permanent Secretary, Denis McMahon, with the consultation to run from Monday 27 March 2023 to Sunday 18 June 2023, a 12-week consultation period. We encourage everyone to both consider and comment on the proposals to ensure that we have new legislation that is fully fit for purpose. This will then allow Ministers to reach a full and informed decision on the new legislation in the next mandate.
Copies of the Consultation Document, including Easy Read and Child-Friendly versions, along with other associated documents including a comprehensive online survey, can be found here.
Please feel free to contact the Racial Equality Legislation Team at racerelationsorderreview@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk should you require hard copy versions of the documents, copies in other languages and formats (including Braille, large print etc.), or wish to find out more about our work and the consultation process.