Faithworks welcomes the appointment of the first chair of the new Commission for Equalities and Human Rights (CEHR), which will come into being in October 2007. Trevor Phillips has been announced as the new post-holder.

The CEHR will bring together expertise and resources to promote equality and tackle discrimination in relation to gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, human rights, race, and religion or belief.

The establishment of this body provides for the first time ever, an equal environment for religion and belief alongside other components of identity, in the search for a broader view of how equality and diversity should operate in a modern society.

Faith is a determining factor that shapes the identities of millions of people in the UK. For some time Faithworks has been calling for a better understanding of how it affects and shapes lives and communities, and a broader debate about the nature of faith, not just religion.

We urge Trevor Phillips, in his capacity as chair of the Commission, to recognise the important role of faith in society, and look forward to the Commission’s contribution towards furthering this debate.