New Equality and Social Justice Unit to challenge discrimination
(Above - Traveller Movement and Howe & Co law firm outside the High Courts after the discrimination victory against Wetherspoons)
A new Equality and Social Justice Unit tasked with challenging discrimination and human rights’ abuses is being set up by Traveller Movement.
The new expert legal unit is part of Traveller Movement’s (TM) commitment to improving access to justice for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma (GTR) communities and individuals in England and Wales.
Geraldine Scullion, the Equality and Social Justice Unit’s project manager said:
“The anti-discrimination law in the UK is among the most advanced in the world. Yet, it is not being implemented in relation to the rights of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities and individuals.”
“This exciting development will support GTR individuals to challenge discrimination and claim their rights.”
The Unit will employ a full-time paralegal worker and, during its initial phase, the focus of the work will be on tackling discrimination in relation to service provision, hate speech/crime, education and policing.
The paralegal will provide legal advice to GTR individuals on these issues, identifying breaches of the law and intervening on their behalf. This work builds on and expands TM’s previous racial justice project. TM has a successful track record of engaging with service providers and public authorities, using its knowledge of the law to resolve complaints, and the paralegal will develop this work.
Where taking action in court is the right way forward, the paralegal worker will refer the individual to a solicitor and will support her/him to bring the case to court. Traveller Movement envisages working closely with GTR individuals and representative groups on identifying cases and supporting complainants to come forward and it will be the role of the paralegal to support this.
The Unit will prioritise training and capacity building for GTR individuals and organisations on discrimination and human rights law. The paralegal will work closely with the GTR communities, representative organisations and the Equality and Human Rights Commission in developing and organising this training.
In order to develop the legal support available to GTR communities, the paralegal will also develop links with the legal profession and other advice givers so that legal support is more widely available.
The new Unit will be launched in the Houses of Parliament on June 8th, 2016.