To celebrate our 10th anniversary, MECOPP held a one day conference on the 3rd of October 2007 at Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh.
About The Conference
Since its introduction in 1998 the Human Rights Act has gradually changed the public’s expectations of their relations with local and national government. With the establishment of the single equalities body — the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights — in October 2007 expectations are set to increase significantly.
By adopting a multi-strand approach to equalities and human rights, the CEHR has the potential to promote new ways of working which recognise that an individual may have more than one identity. So what might this mean for individuals and communities facing multiple discrimination such as Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic carers?
This conference aimed to seek a new framework for discussions about the needs and aspirations of Black and Minority Ethnic carers — one that engenders a new discourse based on reciprocal rights and responsibilities. In particular the conference focused on how human rights concepts can be used to further the debate about Black and Minority Ethnic carers in areas such as:
This conference was a ‘timely’ first for Scotland and we believe the first time that Black and Minority Ethnic carers have been highlighted as a ‘stand alone’ issue within the context of the human rights agenda in Great Britain.
MECOPP gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Scottish Executive for this conference and additional sponsorship from Murrayfield Experience.