Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd, and diolch yn fawr for all the contributions. I thank Members for participating today. I think the debate has clearly demonstrated the importance of safeguarding equality and human rights in Wales across a wide range of issues, and it comes after three statements addressing our commitments to the implementing of the anti-racist action plan, and also, indeed, the introduction of the social partnership and public procurement Bill, which are all relevant to equality and human rights. So, I think highlighting the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in these debates is very important. Clearly, COVID means that we're catching up with some of the reports. The accountability is crucial, not just in terms of our response to the reports as a Welsh Government, but also to scrutinise the work of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

So, I've indicated already areas of policy where we've worked together effectively and with impact, because, obviously, we are dealing with both devolved and non-devolved areas in terms of those policy issues. So, the impact report has been important to us, and I say that we have a very strong and positive relationship with the EHRC, and we do remain grateful for the guidance when developing policy and legislation. I work very closely—I meet regularly with Ruth Coombs, the head of EHRC in Wales, and I want to thank the team again for all of the work, and also officials working on a variety of work, and I've mentioned the work in terms of strengthening public sector equality duty in Wales and the introduction and implementation of the socioeconomic duty. And we do have to ensure that the EHRC retains a strong and distinct presence in Wales, because this is an unprecedented time for equality and human rights in the UK; the work of the EHRC is more important than ever.

I do want to just comment on a couple of the points raised by both Altaf Hussain and Sioned Williams, particularly relating to older people. I was very pleased to be able to meet the cross-party group on older people, chaired by Mike Hedges today, where I was able to talk a bit about how we had responded to their views about the fact that we need to have a specific work stream on older people in the new strategy, the next stage of the violence against women and domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy. We'd learnt that from working together, through the influence of the cross-party group and its members, but also working with the Older People's Commissioner for Wales and Age Cymru to monitor particularly, for example, the impact of the pandemic on older people. But also the older people's commissioner meets regularly with the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, and recent conversations have focused on the rights of older people in care homes and just learning lessons to ensure that we have a rights-based approach with a strategy for an ageing society.

I think there are areas where we have huge concerns where we would like the EHRC to address, for example I would say the exclusion of migrant women from protection against abuse. I would expect the Equality and Human Rights Commission to agree with me that it's not sufficient for the UK Government to adopt the protocols of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women—CEDAW—that have been raised in this Chamber more than once, if some of the most vulnerable women in our communities are deliberately excluded from the safeguard it provides. It does just bring us back, finally, to our international commitments and reputation in relation to equality and human rights.

Sioned Williams, you identify those areas that have had a huge impact in terms of every protected characteristic and equality and human rights, the impact of climate change and austerity. We're currently waiting for the UK Government to publish details of the bill of rights, which it proposes to replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with. Unless they're radically different to those set out in the recent consultation, which unfortunately we don't expect, this will be a step backwards that will send all the wrong signals to regressive and repressive regimes around the world. In this context, finally, Llywydd, the Welsh Government will do all it can to stand up for and safeguard the most fundamental principles of equality and human rights for everyone in Wales. It is vital. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has to have a strong and independent presence in Wales. We look forward to meeting the new commissioner. They need to continue to provide us with unbiased evidence. We have our new equality evidence unit. It is in place, appointments have made—I'm very glad to be able to reassure Sioned of that point. Its mission is to improve the availability, quality, granularity and accessibility of evidence about individuals with protected and associated characteristics. It's going to support the whole of the Welsh Government with better informed policies, and we have developed a draft strategic evidence plan describing the scope, remit and priorities, and we'll publish that in this summer. So, I'm glad that we have been able to clarify that this afternoon.

Yes, EHRC must have a strong and independent presence. It has to continue to provide us with the unbiased evidence we need to support our plans and activity. I've pointed to areas where I think they should stand up and support the stance that we have taken in terms of upholding and strengthening and advancing human rights and equality. We have to ensure that Welsh people's rights are upheld, and I'm hopeful that all Members will join me, working together to improve equality across Wales in all its forms. Can I say that, this afternoon, when we have had this theme of equality, particularly focusing on anti-racism, has been powerful? And I'm grateful to all Members who've played their part in making this event so important, and this debate. Diolch yn fawr.