Equalities and social justice in a devolved Wales

The last decade has witnessed widespread change in the equalities field. The 2000s opened with groundbreaking reforms to equality law under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and closed with the introduction of a major piece of legislation the Equality Act 2010 - which established a new approach to equalities. A new enforcement body had been set up - the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) - and a new Infrastructure lor delivering on equality duties at the local level had been created. United Kingdom (UK) equality law now leads the way in Europe as the framework lor the 'single equality approach now in place These developments were put in place alongside the existing architecture for promoting equality established under devolution and the Government of Wales Act 1998 It is not too difficult therefore to assert that the climate lor taking forward issues of anti-discrimination and equality of opportunity has never been better. This chapter will outline these major changes initiated by the UK government on equalities.