Commission for Racial Equality

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The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which tackles racial discrimination and promotes racial equality. It was set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 and is the only body with statutory power to help enforce the act. Its current chair is Kay Hampton. Trevor Phillips, the previous chair, has now left to become the new chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

The Race Relations Act applies in England, Wales and Scotland. It does not apply in Northern Ireland, where the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 applies. The CRE's work covers all the areas where people are protected against discrimination under the Race Relations Act.

The mission statement of the Commission is "We work for a just and integrated society, where diversity is valued. We use persuasion and our powers under the law to give everyone an equal chance to live free from fear of discrimination, prejudice and racism."

The main goals of the CRE are:

To encourage greater integration and better relations between people from different ethnic groups.
To use its legal powers to help eradicate racial discrimination and harassment.
To work with government and public authorities to promote racial equality in all public services.
To support local and regional organisations, and employers in all sectors, in their efforts to ensure equality of opportunity and good race relations.
To raise public awareness of racial discrimination and injustice, and to win support for efforts to create a fairer and more equal society.

The CRE organises the annual RIMA (Race in the Media) awards. In 2005 the Media Personality of the Year award was won by footballer Thierry Henry. The 2006 RIMA awards ceremony were held on 14 June at the Royal Opera House, London.

In 2006 the CRE launched a new free bimonthly publication on race issues, Catalyst Magazine. The magazine aims "to kickstart debates, discussions, new ideas and arguments - about where we are now, and where we might be going in the future."

[edit] Issues

In October 2007 the Commission will be merged into a new single Great Britain equalities body, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). However, the CRE has proposed a new non-governmental public body to work alongside the CEHR to guide, advise and mediate on community relations, civic engagement and citizenship.
Segregation. On September 22nd 2005, in the aftermath of the July bombings in London, Trevor Phillips gave a speech, "Sleepwalking to Segregation", warning that the UK was in danger of becoming a segregated nation.
National identity cards. In their January 2005 report doc, the CRE raised concerns over the potential effects of the Identity Cards Bill on ethnic minority and vulnerable groups in society.