Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

Graphic with text 'New Commissioners appointed', and an Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo in the top left corner

We welcome the appointment of Colin Kennedy as Deputy Chair of the Equality Commission, alongside two new Commissioners, Kristel Miller and Kevin Doherty, and look forward to working with them to promote equality and challenge discrimination.

Read the press release 👇
www.gov.uk/government/n...

Graphic for a press release with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo in the top right corner. Text reads: 'Northern Ireland cannot afford life-changing employment support for disabled people'. Includes a photo of Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner.

The end of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on 31 March will have a significant impact on many disabled people seeking to secure and retain paid employment.

Read more in our press release 👇
www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

Former PwC employee settles age and disability discrimination case for £150,000 A former employee of PwC who brought an age and disability discrimination case against the company with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland will receive a £150,000 settlement.

A former employee of PwC who brought an age and disability discrimination case against the company with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland will receive a £150,000 settlement. @equalitycommni.bsky.social

Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey standing by a window and looking at the camera, with a view of Belfast city in the background.

A woman who had worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers Services Ltd (PwC) for more than 40 years has settled her case of age and disability discrimination against the company for £150,000. The case was supported by the Equality Commission.

Read the press release 👇
www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

Promotional graphic for the event 'Reasonable adjustments: Developing good practice'

Join our in-person event on developing good practice in making reasonable adjustments that support disabled people in recruitment and employment.

📅 Thurs 5 Mar 2026
🕤 9.30am (registration) to 12:30pm (light lunch provided)
📍 Ulster University Belfast

To book 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reasonable...

Three people smiling at the camera with an Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo in the background

We were delighted to co-host a Section 75 training session with Children in Northern Ireland for the community and voluntary sector.

Thanks to our speakers, Mairead Starrs (ECNI), Natalie Whelehan (CiNI), and Patrice Hardy (ECNI), and everyone who joined us for a valuable and interactive morning.

Thank you to the IMNI Disability Stakeholder Forum for the valuable discussion. We welcomed the opportunity to hear views on the Department for Communities' draft NI Executive Disability Strategy 2025–2035, which is currently open for consultation.

We are grateful to Dr Corrigan for sharing her insights and for a constructive discussion on how ECNI and the BMA are working together to improve equality of opportunity for disabled and neurodivergent doctors and medical students.

Festive graphic with the text “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Best wishes from everyone at the Equality Commission.” The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo is centered at the bottom.

🎄Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at the Equality Commission.

Our office will be closed over Christmas and the New Year, reopening on Friday, 2nd January 2026.

For advice or information, please visit www.equalityni.org

Jayla Boyd stands in a doorway, looking toward the camera

Jayla Boyd, a student who worked as a sales assistant, has settled her sexual harassment case against her former employer JD Sports Fashion PLC for £65,000.

The case was supported by the Equality Commission and settled without admission of liability.

Read more 👇
www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

Three people smiling at the camera. In the background is an Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo with the strapline ‘Promoting equality, challenging discrimination.’ This is for an event in Black Mountain Shared Space about improving accessibility and support for disabled applicants and employees.

Attendees at an event in Black Mountain Shared Space about improving accessibility and support for disabled applicants and employees.

Attendees at an event in Black Mountain Shared Space about improving accessibility and support for disabled applicants and employees.

Attendees at an event in Black Mountain Shared Space about improving accessibility and support for disabled applicants and employees.

We were delighted to co-host our Reasonable Adjustments Better Futures event yesterday in Black Mountain Shared Space with Belfast Business Promise and the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE).

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the session so engaging.

Bank of Ireland fined £2k for breaching Northern Ireland equality law Bank of Ireland has been fined £2,000 for breaches of Northern Ireland employment equality legislation.

Bank of Ireland has been fined £2,000 for breaches of Northern Ireland employment equality legislation. @equalitycommni.bsky.social

🎄The festive season is here, and so are work dos and Christmas parties.

To avoid potential issues, read our blog for tips to keep your work Christmas party safe and respectful 👇
www.equalityni.org/Blog/Article...

Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey standing by a window and looking at the camera, with a view of Belfast city in the background.

The Equality Commission has formally applied to the High Court for leave to apply for judicial review following the Supreme Court’s judgment in the case of ‘For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers’.

Read the press release 👇
www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

Promotional graphic for the event 'Section 75 in action: Influencing decisions and improving outcomes'.

Join us for an in-person event on Section 75 and how it can strengthen your policy and advocacy work.

📅 Tues 27 Jan 2026
⏰ 10am – 12pm
📍 Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast

This workshop is for those in the community and voluntary sector.

To book 👇
www.eventbrite.com/e/section-75...

Illustration of people interacting with mobile devices and a robot labeled "AI," with logos for ECNI, CIPD, and Omagh Enterprise, promoting an online event about AI in recruitment and HR.

AI is reshaping recruitment and staff management, and employers need to understand both the opportunities and the risks.

CIPD NI & the Equality Commission are hosting a free online event on using AI responsibly in HR.

Sign up 👉 cutt.ly/Wtrrzkp4

Reasonable Adjustments-Better Futures. Let's build an Inclusive Workforce. In person conference focusing on reasonable adjustments and practical ways to implement.

Join us on Thurs, 11 Dec at Girdwood Hub, Belfast, for an event on reasonable adjustments and creating supportive, accessible workplaces for disabled applicants and employees.

⏰ Time: 9:30am registration | 10:00am – 1:00pm (light lunch provided)

Book your place 👇
www.eventbrite.com/e/reasonable...

Graphic for a blog with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo. Text reads: 'Anti-Bullying Week: Taking action to challenge racism in schools.' Includes a photo of Dr. Chris Jenkins, Senior Policy Officer.

This Anti-Bullying Week, Senior Policy Officer Chris Jenkins highlights the specific actions needed to address racist bullying and ensure every child feels safe at school.

Read the blog 👇
🔗 www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

An Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in the top left corner. Below this is text Applications open to appoint new members to the Board Deputy Chief Commissioner and Commissioner Closing date: 28 November

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is inviting applications for the roles of Deputy Chief Commissioner and Commissioner at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

For full details and application packs 👇
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...

Closing date: Friday, 28 November

A background graphic with an illustration of diverse people, an Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo in the bottom right corner, and the text: End hate crime in Northern Ireland Read our recommendations equalityni.org/hatecrimepolicy

This Hate Crime Awareness Week, it’s more important than ever to stand together against all forms of hate, embrace diversity and build stronger, inclusive communities.

Read our recommendations to end hate crime 👇
www.equalityni.org/HateCrimePolicy 

Hate Crime Awareness Week runs until 18 October.

A blue, green and white coloured graphic with a green ribbon design and an Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo in the bottom left. The text is World Mental Health Day 10 October

This World Mental Health Day, we're highlighting the importance of supporting mental wellbeing at work 💚

Find out how we can help you promote positive mental health and good employment practice in your organisation 👇
🔗 www.equalityni.org/Employers-Se...

9 people (7 women and 2 men) standing in front of a white wall. The words "We are the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission" are written on the wall in purple.

Today, we hosted another meeting of our strategic litigation forum.

Our forum meets twice yearly and brings together lawyers in organisations working on human rights strategic litigation.

Thanks to all who took time out of the schedules to attend!

Older people in NI have fewer protections from age discrimination than elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.

This #InternationalDayofOlderPersons, we call for stronger protections in goods, facilities and services for all ages.

Learn more about Age Law Reform 👇
www.equalityni.org/Delivering-E...

Five people standing together, smiling at the camera following a Gender Budgeting workshop

Today, we welcomed Ulster University’s Gender Budgeting Project Team to Equality House to learn about their work and discuss how the budgeting process can help improve equality.

Three people standing, facing the camera at a Carers NI event

Two people sitting, having a conversation with the audience at the Carers NI event

Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey took part in the Carers NI’s 60th anniversary event where she spoke about the equality issues facing unpaid carers and the need to reform health and social care. We congratulate Carers NI on 60 years of supporting and championing carers in Northern Ireland.

Graphic promoting an Hourglass webinar. Black and white images of two older people appear in the bottom right corner. Hourglass logo is in the top left. Text reads 'Hourglass webinar: The links between ageism and abuse, Northern Ireland, 24th September, 10:30–12:00. Book your place for free on Eventbrite. www.wearehourglass.org

We're speaking at the 'Links with Ageism and Abuse: Northern Ireland' Hourglass webinar this Wednesday, 24 Sept, 10.30am to 12pm, about the harms of ageism and the need for comprehensive legislation to protect people from age discrimination.

Book your place 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-links-...

Cover page of the Trussell Trust’s Hunger in Northern Ireland Executive Summary September 2025 report, featuring the title, logo and branding.

We attended the Trussell Trust's briefing on hunger & food insecurity in NI & discussed the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy. Our consultation response calls for targeted actions across equality groups in education, housing, employment & other areas. Read our response 👇
www.equalityni.org/ECNI/media/E...

Graphic with the text 'Roadmap update Consultation For Women Scotland and its implications in Northern Ireland.' The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo appears in the top left corner.

The Commission is advancing its Roadmap to clarify key definitions under the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976 (SDO) and assist the development of final guidance for employers and service providers. 

Learn more and respond to the consultation by 19 September 👇
🔗 www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

Graphic with a blue background and a green frame. Inside the frame, white text reads Northern Ireland's Anti-Poverty Strategy: A critical opportunity at risk Below, smaller text reads Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, alongside her photo. The word Blog is in the top left corner, and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland logo is in the top right.

In her blog, Chief Commissioner Geraldine McGahey discusses why the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy falls short, calling for clear targets, actions, accountability, and ringfenced budgets.

Read the blog and respond to the consultation by 19 September 👇
🔗 www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...

Rosie Pidgeon, a Belfast student, sitting outdoors in an electric wheelchair, looking toward the camera

Rosie Pidgeon, a Belfast student, has settled her disability discrimination case against Translink for £7,500. The case was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

You can read more about the case here 👇
www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links...