An advocate has criticised the island’s proposed equality law.
Paul Beckett said: ‘In using the UK’s Equality Act 2010 as the precedent for the Equality Bill, the Isle of Man Government has unconsciously adopted the prejudices of the UK’s inner circles of power inherent in the way that Act is put together and in what it covers; particularly their abhorrence of social and cultural rights.
‘Poverty relief is clearly not on the agenda.’
He added: ‘Our government has also overlooked the UK’s Equality Act 2006, which consolidated and expanded the role of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The Isle of Man Government’s putting forward the Equality Bill is only half the story - the walls are going up, but the footings aren’t in.’
As the Manx Independent went to press last night, he was addressing the Isle of Man United Nations Association with a talk entitled ‘A Human Rights Commission for the Isle of Man? Is the Equality Bill only half the story?’
Isle of Man United Nations Association secretary Andrew Newton said: ‘Our association exists to foster debate about international issues that affect the island. The proposed Equality Bill is a case in point where international standards and experience need to be considered.’