Thursday, September 28, 2006
Hello, Hello Hello!
If you have an independent view on policing in Sussex, you could be just the sort of person Sussex Police Authority is seeking to fill one of four independent member vacancies.
The Authority is considering applications for the positions now and is looking for a wide range of people fully reflecting the rich local diversity of the communities served by Sussex Police. Successful applicants, who will serve a term of up to four years, can expect to work 7-10 hours a week on average in their role, in exchange for an allowance and expenses.
The new independent members will join Crawley man, Faizul Faiz, to form a contingent of five independent members on the 17-strong Authority along with three magistrate members and nine councillor members from East and West Sussex county councils and Brighton & Hove City Council.
Faizul, who was appointed to the Authority last year, has no doubts about the increasingly important role that police authorities have to play, both locally and nationally.
"Sussex Police Authority was among the leading opponents of the Home Office's plan to merge Sussex and Surrey police forces that, thankfully, now seems to be off the agenda." he said.
"We are firmly of the opinion that there must be local accountability and this is a great chance for just about anyone who is over 21 and lives or works in Sussex to contribute towards securing an efficient and effective police service in Sussex, consulting the people of Sussex about the work of the police and building a partnership between the police and local communities."
Members are expected to keep abreast of national and local developments affecting policing, participate in public consultation, attend meetings, committees and working groups, work in partnership with the police and the local community and take a keen interest in all aspects of policing.
The role does demand good communication skills and other relevant skills, experience and knowledge, for example in management, business, finance, community or race relations, are also very useful. In addition, members must have the ability to represent a wide range of people in the community and provide a constructive challenge to accepted views.
For details of how to apply, contact Sussex Police Authority on 01273 482351 or visit its website ˆ www.sussexpoliceauthority.gov.uk
The Authority is considering applications for the positions now and is looking for a wide range of people fully reflecting the rich local diversity of the communities served by Sussex Police. Successful applicants, who will serve a term of up to four years, can expect to work 7-10 hours a week on average in their role, in exchange for an allowance and expenses.
The new independent members will join Crawley man, Faizul Faiz, to form a contingent of five independent members on the 17-strong Authority along with three magistrate members and nine councillor members from East and West Sussex county councils and Brighton & Hove City Council.
Faizul, who was appointed to the Authority last year, has no doubts about the increasingly important role that police authorities have to play, both locally and nationally.
"Sussex Police Authority was among the leading opponents of the Home Office's plan to merge Sussex and Surrey police forces that, thankfully, now seems to be off the agenda." he said.
"We are firmly of the opinion that there must be local accountability and this is a great chance for just about anyone who is over 21 and lives or works in Sussex to contribute towards securing an efficient and effective police service in Sussex, consulting the people of Sussex about the work of the police and building a partnership between the police and local communities."
Members are expected to keep abreast of national and local developments affecting policing, participate in public consultation, attend meetings, committees and working groups, work in partnership with the police and the local community and take a keen interest in all aspects of policing.
The role does demand good communication skills and other relevant skills, experience and knowledge, for example in management, business, finance, community or race relations, are also very useful. In addition, members must have the ability to represent a wide range of people in the community and provide a constructive challenge to accepted views.
For details of how to apply, contact Sussex Police Authority on 01273 482351 or visit its website ˆ www.sussexpoliceauthority.gov.uk
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Labour "blows hot and cold" on gay rights
Speaking at the Green Party annual conference LGBT fringe meeting, at Hove Town Hall, on September 23, Peter Tatchell, OutRage! activist, human rights campaigner and member of the Green Party said:
"Labour blows hot and cold on lesbian and gay human rights. It has enacted several very positive reforms, such as equalising the age of consent and allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. But these progressive changes are no excuse for the government's current backing of homophobic discrimination in several key policy areas:
"The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights is welcome but flawed. It's effectiveness and fairness will be inhibited by the uneven patch-work of equality laws. Some communities have more protection than others. Race legislation is, for example, much stronger than legislation on gender and sexual orientation. We don't have a level playing field. What is needed is the upward harmonisation of all equality laws, to bring them into line with the gold standard set by race equality legislation. For the CEHR to operate effectively and fairly, we need a comprehensive, all-inclusive Equal Rights Act,
to guarantee equal treatment and protection against discrimination to everyone. The CEHR should have separate, semi-autonomous committees, covering each of the six equality strands, a race committee, a sexual orientation committee and so on. This would help ensure that none of the six equality strands is neglected or overshadowed by the others.
"Tony Blair's administration backs the ban on same-sex marriage. It supports a system of sexual apartheid, whereby gays are banned from marriage (homophobia) and straights are banned from civil partnerships (heterophobia). This two-tiered system of partnership law is not equality. It perpetuates and extends discrimination. Marriage is the gold standard. Civil partnerships are second best. The Greens are the only party officially committed to giving same-sex partners the right to get married.
"The government is refusing asylum to lesbians and gays who have been jailed, tortured and raped in countries like Iraq, Jamaica, Iran, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Uganda. The Home Office says they won't be at risk of arrest and murder if they hide their sexuality and behave 'with discretion'. Labour is ordering the deportation of lesbian and gay refugees, despite the danger that they could be imprisoned or killed.
"Labour, together with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, allows homophobic reggae singers to openly advocate the murder of queers, and it permits record stores and radio stations to promote their CDs inciting homophobic violence. Government ministers would never tolerate similar 'murder music' against Jewish or black people. Why aren't we entitled to the same protection?
"The government recently enacted a new law against incitement to religious hatred, but it refuses to pass a law prohibiting incitement to homophobic hatred. More double standards from Labour. If there are going to be laws against incitement to hatred they should prohibit all incitements to hatred, not just some incitements.
"These are a few of the instances where Labour could have overturned homophobia, but instead chose to maintain discrimination. In contrast, the Green Party supports full equality and human rights.
"The government says it is committed to equality, but it often fails to deliver. There is no justification for Labour's failure to remedy these injustices. Protest to your MP, the Equalities Minister and Tony Blair," said Mr Tatchell.
"Labour blows hot and cold on lesbian and gay human rights. It has enacted several very positive reforms, such as equalising the age of consent and allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. But these progressive changes are no excuse for the government's current backing of homophobic discrimination in several key policy areas:
"The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights is welcome but flawed. It's effectiveness and fairness will be inhibited by the uneven patch-work of equality laws. Some communities have more protection than others. Race legislation is, for example, much stronger than legislation on gender and sexual orientation. We don't have a level playing field. What is needed is the upward harmonisation of all equality laws, to bring them into line with the gold standard set by race equality legislation. For the CEHR to operate effectively and fairly, we need a comprehensive, all-inclusive Equal Rights Act,
to guarantee equal treatment and protection against discrimination to everyone. The CEHR should have separate, semi-autonomous committees, covering each of the six equality strands, a race committee, a sexual orientation committee and so on. This would help ensure that none of the six equality strands is neglected or overshadowed by the others.
"Tony Blair's administration backs the ban on same-sex marriage. It supports a system of sexual apartheid, whereby gays are banned from marriage (homophobia) and straights are banned from civil partnerships (heterophobia). This two-tiered system of partnership law is not equality. It perpetuates and extends discrimination. Marriage is the gold standard. Civil partnerships are second best. The Greens are the only party officially committed to giving same-sex partners the right to get married.
"The government is refusing asylum to lesbians and gays who have been jailed, tortured and raped in countries like Iraq, Jamaica, Iran, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Uganda. The Home Office says they won't be at risk of arrest and murder if they hide their sexuality and behave 'with discretion'. Labour is ordering the deportation of lesbian and gay refugees, despite the danger that they could be imprisoned or killed.
"Labour, together with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, allows homophobic reggae singers to openly advocate the murder of queers, and it permits record stores and radio stations to promote their CDs inciting homophobic violence. Government ministers would never tolerate similar 'murder music' against Jewish or black people. Why aren't we entitled to the same protection?
"The government recently enacted a new law against incitement to religious hatred, but it refuses to pass a law prohibiting incitement to homophobic hatred. More double standards from Labour. If there are going to be laws against incitement to hatred they should prohibit all incitements to hatred, not just some incitements.
"These are a few of the instances where Labour could have overturned homophobia, but instead chose to maintain discrimination. In contrast, the Green Party supports full equality and human rights.
"The government says it is committed to equality, but it often fails to deliver. There is no justification for Labour's failure to remedy these injustices. Protest to your MP, the Equalities Minister and Tony Blair," said Mr Tatchell.
City Council Moves to Adopt Montreal Declaration on Human Rights
Brighton & Hove City Council Leader, Simon Burgess (Labour) and Chair of the City's Equalities Forum, Paul Elgood (Lib Dem), are jointly calling for councillors from all parties to back the Montreal Declaration which calls for international action on LGBT Human Rights and came out of the Human Rights Conference staged in Montreal during the Out Games in July. They have tabled a Notice of Motion to the City Council calling for the council's support for the Declaration.
Labour City Council Leader, Simon Burgess, said;
'I expect many people in our relatively tolerant City will be shocked to learn that in nine countries you can face the death penalty just because of your sexuality, or that an event like Pride would be illegal in many more countries.
'It's right that Councillors, as spokespeople for the City, we should express our strong desire to see human rights respected around the world. In addition we must not be complacent in our own city, there is always work to be done to ensure everyone is free from discrimination. This is not about favouritism, it's about fairness for all."
Liberal Democrat City Councillor Paul Elgood and Chair of the Equalities Forum said:
'Over the summer the whole gay world looked to Montreal and their success with the Out Games. But the Games had a strong political tone and was used successfully to highlight a range of LGBT human rights issues through the
Montreal Declaration.
'They are now asking other Cities to sign up to the Declaration and I hope that Brighton and Hove will be the first in the UK - sending out an important message that our City is a tolerant and open place.
'I also want Brighton & Hove to learn from the success of Montreal's Out Games. We should be learning from what is truly a world class city so that we can look to host such international events in the future.'
Labour City Council Leader, Simon Burgess, said;
'I expect many people in our relatively tolerant City will be shocked to learn that in nine countries you can face the death penalty just because of your sexuality, or that an event like Pride would be illegal in many more countries.
'It's right that Councillors, as spokespeople for the City, we should express our strong desire to see human rights respected around the world. In addition we must not be complacent in our own city, there is always work to be done to ensure everyone is free from discrimination. This is not about favouritism, it's about fairness for all."
Liberal Democrat City Councillor Paul Elgood and Chair of the Equalities Forum said:
'Over the summer the whole gay world looked to Montreal and their success with the Out Games. But the Games had a strong political tone and was used successfully to highlight a range of LGBT human rights issues through the
Montreal Declaration.
'They are now asking other Cities to sign up to the Declaration and I hope that Brighton and Hove will be the first in the UK - sending out an important message that our City is a tolerant and open place.
'I also want Brighton & Hove to learn from the success of Montreal's Out Games. We should be learning from what is truly a world class city so that we can look to host such international events in the future.'
City Council Moves to Adopt Montreal Declaration on Human Rights
Brighton & Hove City Council Leader, Simon Burgess (Labour) and Chair of the City's Equalities Forum, Paul Elgood (Lib Dem), are jointly calling for councillors from all parties to back the Montreal Declaration which calls for international action on LGBT Human Rights and came out of the Human Rights Conference staged in Montreal during the Out Games in July. They have tabled a Notice of Motion to the City Council calling for the council's support for the Declaration.
Labour City Council Leader, Simon Burgess, said;
'I expect many people in our relatively tolerant City will be shocked to learn that in nine countries you can face the death penalty just because of your sexuality, or that an event like Pride would be illegal in many more countries.
'It's right that Councillors, as spokespeople for the City, we should express our strong desire to see human rights respected around the world. In addition we must not be complacent in our own city, there is always work to be done to ensure everyone is free from discrimination. This is not about favouritism, it's about fairness for all."
Liberal Democrat City Councillor Paul Elgood and Chair of the Equalities Forum said:
'Over the summer the whole gay world looked to Montreal and their success with the Out Games. But the Games had a strong political tone and was used successfully to highlight a range of LGBT human rights issues through the
Montreal Declaration.
'They are now asking other Cities to sign up to the Declaration and I hope that Brighton and Hove will be the first in the UK - sending out an important message that our City is a tolerant and open place.
'I also want Brighton & Hove to learn from the success of Montreal's Out Games. We should be learning from what is truly a world class city so that we can look to host such international events in the future.'
