Today, we mark World Day of Social Justice by reflecting on the persistent injustices faced by many in the UK, and by renewing our call for the enactment and enforcement of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 – the socio-economic duty. 

Laying bare existing historic and persistent structural inequalities, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minoritized ethnic (BAME) people, older and disabled people, women, those in poverty or with insecure housing or precarious employment, and people who have come to the UK to escape difficult circumstances abroad. 

We believe that the UK Government’s incorporation of economic and social rights into domestic law, and enactment and enforcement of the socio-economic duty contained in Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 would significantly contribute towards reducing the adverse consequences of inequality and improve the extent to which our human rights are protected. Our research and campaigning at the local, national and international levels confirm this. 

Today, we urge the UK Government to enact and enforce the socio-economic duty contained in Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010. 

Together, we can build a better future in which everyone enjoys the rights they need to flourish. 

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Find out more 

1forEquality is a campaign led by Just Fair and The Equality Trust. Its aim is to urge the UK Government to enact the socio-economic duty in Section 1 of the Equality Act. 

We monitor and campaign for economic and social rights. We urge the UK Government and public authorities to incorporate and implement these human rights into law, policy and practice. We engage with UN human rights treaty body mechanisms to ensure scrutiny of the UK Government’s compliance with human rights obligations.