Research

How do we measure equality and human rights?

Published: 19 February 2019

Last updated: 19 February 2019

Our measurement framework is the tool we use to monitor progress on equality and human rights across a range of areas of life in Great Britain.

We call these areas ‘domains’ and there are six in the framework:

  • education
  • work
  • living standards
  • health
  • justice and personal security
  • participation

The framework covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Download our measurement framework.

What is it?

The framework looks at a range of indicators to measure progress in each domain. Where possible, these measures are broken down by protected characteristics, for example disability or ethnicity, as well as socio-economic group (social class).

The measurement framework also looks at ‘intersectional’ disadvantage (a phrase used to describe the relationship between overlapping social identities and protected characteristics) and at-risk groups, such as homeless people and carers.

How do we use it?

We use the measurement framework to give structure and consistency to the way we collect and analyse information and evidence. We use the data we collect to inform our reports to Parliament, for example the Is Britain Fairer? report. We compare the latest results with data from previous years, so that we can monitor change over time.

Who else can use it?

The framework may be useful to local and national government agencies, foreign governments, international equality and human rights bodies, and researchers. 

Previous frameworks

The current measurement framework was published in 2017. It builds on and brings together our four previous frameworks, which we no longer use:

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