- Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry appointed as interim
commissioners at Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
- They will ensure the EHRC can operate effectively while new
commissioners are recruited.
- Appointments will run for 12 months from 1 January
2026.
- Appointments will ensure the EHRC can continue upholding and
promoting equality and human rights and safeguarding and
enforcing the laws that protect people's rights to fairness,
dignity and respect.
The Minister for Women and Equalities has appointed Ali Harris
and Professor Shazia Choudhry as interim commissioners at the
EHRC.
Ali Harris is Chief Executive of Equally Ours, a human rights
charity. Shazia Choudhry is Professor of Law at the University of
Oxford, and the Jeffrey Hackney Tutorial Fellow in Law at Wadham
College. Their appointments ensure the EHRC can continue
upholding and promoting equality and human rights while
recruitment takes place for fixed commissioners.
On 3 November the Minister for Equalities launched a full, open
recruitment campaign for at least 4 commissioners. These
commissioners will continue to develop the EHRC and support
long-term change and improvements to equality and human rights
issues. The minister is working with the devolved governments to
recruit a Wales and Scotland Commissioner.
Minister for Women and Equalities said:
This government is committed to embedding fairness and equality
into the heart of our agenda, and the EHRC has a key part to play
in this.
Both Ali Harris and Professor Shazia Choudhry bring a wealth of
experience and expertise in equality and human rights, and their
appointments will ensure the EHRC can continue their crucial work
as Britain's independent equality and human rights regulator
while recruitment is ongoing.
The EHRC is Britain's equality and human rights regulator. They:
- regulate equality law in England, Scotland and Wales
- uphold human rights in England and Wales
- make their own decisions on enforcement and investigations
The EHRC is an independent non-departmental public body. They are
sponsored by the Office for Equality and
Opportunity in the Cabinet Office.
