UN Human Rights Council 60: UK Statement for the Item 9 General Debate
UK Statement for the Item 9 General Debate. Delivered at the 60th session of the HRC in Geneva.
Thank you.
This October, the UK marks Black History Month - a time to honour the enduring contributions of Black people to British society, reflect on the past, and champion a more inclusive future for all.
The UK is committed to building a fairer society where everyone - regardless of background - has an equal chance to succeed. While progress has been made in tackling racial discrimination, systemic inequalities still persist in areas like housing, employment, and healthcare. That’s why we are taking action to root out structural racism and level the playing field.
We will publish a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which will include measures to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for large employers. This will provide transparency and help businesses identify and address disparities. We are working closely with employers to ensure this leads to meaningful change.
We have also launched a Race Equality Engagement Group to enable an effective two-way dialogue with ethnic minority communities and guide our efforts to tackle race inequalities.
We stand firmly against racism and remain committed to taking meaningful action - both at home and abroad - to create a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
Chair, what actions can be taken to address structural racism in employment and promote inclusive workplaces globally?