12/09/07 -� Commission for Equality and Human Rights announces Disability Committee members

Jane Campbell, Commissioner and Chair of the Disability Committee for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), today announced the appointments of six committee members to the Disability Committee of the CEHR.

�Jane Campbell said:

“I am delighted to welcome such an excellent range of talented, diverse and experienced people to the Disability Committee of the CEHR.

Together and individually the Disability Committee members bring together a vast amount of knowledge and insight from the public, private, voluntary sectors. They know the key issues and challenges from across the equalities and human rights spectrum.� This will ensure that disability remains at the heart of the CEHR.

���������� They are committed to creating a fairer society and I look forward to working with them.”

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����������� Appointed to the Committee are:

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• Saghir Alam, a lawyer and a DRC Commissioner leading on partnership and capacity building. He has been working with central and local government on equality and diversity issues including as a member of Equality 2025.� He is also a member of the Race and Diversity Panel of CENTREX, the National Police Training Authority.

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• Alun Davies, Adult Care Planning Manager in Adult Social Services and Housing for North Somerset District Council. After studying social work and social administration at university has been working for disabled peoples’ organisations ever since.

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• Andrew Lee, Director of People First (Self Advocacy), a campaigning organisation run by people with learning difficulties. It has national membership and has influenced Government on a number of key issues. �

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• Dianne Mulligan, an employment consultant, helping businesses to develop a more diverse workforce.� Diane returned to the UK in 2005 after living in Indonesia for 5 years, where she worked as the Country Director for VSO and as a freelance Diversity Consultant, specialising in gender, disability and health issues.

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• Liz Sayce, Director of RADAR, January 2007.� She was previously Director of Policy and Communications at the Disability Rights Commission where she led DRC's formal investigation into health inequalities and oversaw preparation of the Disability Agenda.� Liz's specialism is mental health issues. She is also a Trustee of Stonewall.�

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�������� Mike Smith, Director of Policy, Compliance, at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). He is also Acting Chair of the National Centre for Independent Living, Chair of Tower Hamlets Coalition of Disabled People, and a member of Stonewall’s Board. He is a former Chair of PwC's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender staff network and is currently helping establish their disability network.

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For media enquiries please contact the CEHR press office on 020 7215 2489 or email [email protected]. For out of hours ring 07767 272 818.

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Notes to editors:

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1.����� The Disability Committee is a statutory, decision making committee of the new Commission which was established under the Equality Act 2006 and will be responsible for overseeing the disability related work of the CEHR.

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2.����� Further appointments to the Disability Committee, which has places for nine members, are expected shortly.

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3.����� The new Commission, set up to champion equality and human rights issues and eliminate discrimination across Britain, takes on the functions of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), with new responsibilities for sexual orientation, age, religion and belief, from October 2007.

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4.����� For further information on these and other appointments please visit www.cehr.org.uk.