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The Equal Opportunities Commission was established in 1975 under Section 53 of the Sex Discrimination Act. It was set up as an independent statutory body to work towards the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sex or marriage; to promote equality of opportunity for women and men; to keep under review the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act; and to provide legal advice and assistance to individuals who have been discriminated against. On 1 October 2007 the three equality commissions (the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission, and the Equal Opportunities Commission) merged into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission.