The Commission has continued its good work in 2019 in a climate of financial constraints and limited resources. These constraints have had a significant impact on our ability to deliver on our statutory function, to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different status.

Over the past year, sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace have been a focus of national and international attention largely because of the impact of the Me Too and Time’s Up movements. These two events led to a global debate about fairness, equality and the treatment of women in the workplace. The 2018 theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”, focused on empowering persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

The year 2017 saw several changes at the Commission reflecting its constant growth and evolution in meeting its statutory obligations. There were several highlights for the reporting period…

The year 2016 saw the Commission assuming a greater role in raising awareness of its statutory obligations both to remove clearly defined forms of discrimination and to intercede in instances in which such discrimination was found to be present.

The highlight of fiscal year 2015/ 2016 for the EOC was the conduct of our strategic planning exercise to take the work of the Commission down to the year 2018. We felt a 3-year plan would provide continuity after the end of the term of the current board in 2017.

The year 2014 saw the all-encompassing theme of transitions and transformations for the EOC. However, this was embraced with optimism as the old analogy would have it… change is the only constant. As we assimilated to these transitions we faced both accomplishments and challenges as an organisation with a unique service to the public

Since the mandate of the Equal Opportunity Commission continues to be to secure and ensure the rights of all citizens, we continued in 2013 to strengthen our capacity to deliver on our goals by the pursuit of several initiatives. Widening the organisational capacity through expanded human resources and outreach programmes has been our thrust for much of 2013. Following the appointment of an adequate complement of staff by 2010 the Commission proceeded vigorously on a Public Education campaign in keeping with the mandate of the Act.

In 2012 the continued expansion in our public presence following which the Commission facilitated a number of requests from various organizations and institutions to make our services even more understood and accessible. These developments led us to embark on a fundamental organization of constituent units, which are now in the process of being implemented. We expect that when achieved it will enhance our productivity and ability to deal with the increasing number of complaints from the public.

The expansion of the Commissions Public Education Programme stemmed from increasing requests from various organisations and institutions to make our services more available to the wider public. There is, accordingly, in 2011 greater public awareness of our relevance and importance. With the appointment in 2011 of a new and re-invigorated Commission I confidently expect renewed vigour and new initiatives.

It is with some pride and pleasure that I commend our report for the year 2010 to the wider public. Whereas the period 2008/2009 was one that involved the establishment of our foundations, 2010 was a period of consolidating. In 2009 we had moved to more spacious accommodation at Wrightson Road. This permitted more adequate staffing and in 2010, we began work in earnest.

This report is being submitted in keeping with Clause 53 of the Equal Opportunity Act (EOA) of 2000. Use Equal Opportunity Commission(EOC) was appointed on the 21st April, 2008 with a basic mandate to work towards the elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equality and good relations between persons of different statuses.