Press Release - 20 April 2007

Baroness seeks advice from Yorkshire development agency

A Yorkshire charity is helping to shape the vision and missions of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.



QED chief executive Dr Mohammed Ali OBE with the Commission for Equality and Human Rights deputy chair Baroness Margaret Prosser and QED deputy chief executive Adeeba Malik MBE.

Baroness Margaret Prosser was the special guest at Bradford-based QED UK yesterday (Thursday 19 April) where she learned more about the work of the charity which strives to improve the education and employment opportunities for people of South Asian origin.

Baroness Prosser has been appointed as the Deputy Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), which will come into force in October 2007 to promote equality and human rights and tackle discrimination in relation to gender, gender reassignment, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age and race.

The CEHR's vision to create "a Britain at ease with all aspects of its diversity, built on fairness and respect for all", is in line with QED's aims and objectives. The charity has been working with communities across the UK over the past 16 years to help to create a level playing field for people of all origins.

Baroness Prosser spent two hours with chief executive Dr Mohammed Ali OBE and deputy chief executive Adeeba Malik MBE, touring the QED headquarters on Manningham Road and meeting some of the people who have benefited from their work.

Dr Ali was delighted to welcome Baroness Prosser to QED. "The Baroness's visit is an acknowledgement of our work and success over the past 16 years. Although we have a strong regional presence in Yorkshire we play a national role in creating a cohesive society for communities across the UK. I hope the Baroness has learnt something from us and can use it to help shape the visions and mission of the CEHR for the future."

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