7th Floor Millennium House
19-25 Great Victoria Street
Belfast BT2 7AQ
Web: www.niscc.info
"Reference to the law on discrimination and equal opportunities should permeate all social work law teaching within the academic and practice curricula". "Social Workers and Probation Officers are committed to anti-discriminatory practice in relation to race, nationality, religion, gender, disability, mental health status, sexuality, age, income, language and class."
CCETSW (NI). 1997. Law for Social Workers in Northern Ireland . Belfast: CCETSW (NI), 22.
A Social care worker's responsibilities regarding anti-discrimination are outlined in the NISCC Code of Practice to which all workers commit when they register to practice.
NISCC. 2002. Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers of Social Care Workers . www.niscc.info/registration
The Northern Ireland Act 1998 established the Equality Commission. It has the task of placing a statutory duty on all public authorities to have regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and to the desirability of good relations. The Commission encompasses the functions of the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Disability Council. The Equality Commission is accountable to the Office of the First Minister.
Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Central Management Unit, Room E4.13, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SR. Web: www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk
Equality Commission. Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast. BT2 7DP. Tel: (028) 90500600. Fax: (028) 90248687. E-mail: information@equalityni.org.uk - Web: www.equalityni.org.uk
Relevant legislation in the area of anti-discrimination includes the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976, the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989, the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997, the Equal Pay Act (NI) 1970 and the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Order 2000 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995..
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 placed new statutory duties on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity and good relations.
The Children (NI) Order 1995 makes specific reference to differences in background, race, culture and religion. When Trusts and Boards are required to make a decision about placements for individual children e.g. foster care or residential care, they must give due consideration to the child's religious, cultural and linguistic background.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) was set up in 1999, under the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Section 69 of this Act describes the Commission's role as involving the review of law and practice, advising the government on matters pertaining to human rights. The Commission also has the power to give assistance to individuals who apply to it for help in relation to proceedings involving law or practice concerning the protection of human rights.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Temple Court, 39 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NA. Tel: (028) 90243987. Fax: (028) 90247844. Web: www.nihrc.org
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