The Gender Equality Duty is an amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975; the Act prohibits sex discrimination against individuals in employment, education, and the provision of goods, facilities and services.
The Gender Equality Duty reinforces this by placing a legal obligation on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity between men and women, and actively demonstrating that men and women are treated equally and fairly in the exercise of public functions.
The Gender Duty also protects transgender people from discrimination and harassment on the grounds of gender reassignment in employment and vocational training under the existing sex discrimination legislation. From late 2007, the European Directive on Goods and Services will make it unlawful for gender reassignment discrimination and harassment in access to goods and services.
The Gender Duty came into force on 6 April 2007. All listed public organisations will need to publish a Gender Equality Scheme which identifies gender equality goals and proposed actions to achieve the goals, in consultation with employees and stakeholders.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Equalityandhumanrights/...
PDF version All local authorities are required to produce a Gender Equality Scheme (GES). This advice will help you check that you have touched all the bases.
The Gender Equality Duty (GED) presents an opportunity for gender to be considered in all areas of policy making. The duty requires more than simply the equal treatment for men and women. Public bodies must promote and take action to bring about gender equality, which involves:
- looking at issues for men and women
- understanding why inequalities exist and how to overcome them
- creating effective service provision for all, so that everyone can access services that meet their needs.
Your GES will have been developed in consultation with employees, service users and others – including trade unions. The scheme will have taken into account information that is relevant to how policies and practices affect gender equality in the workplace and in delivery of your services. It will also need to consider the need to have objectives to address the causes of any gender pay gap.
The full text of the duty and code of practice – available on the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) website
Enforcing the Gender Equality Duty – A toolkit for individuals – on the EHRC website
Local Government Employers (LGE) – for further guidance on the website
The IDeA’s Equality and Cohesion team are available to assist authorities in reviewing schemes – for advice contact: elizabeth.gardiner@idea.gov.uk.
Good practice
Through GES reviewing and monitoring processes, councils will have built up good understanding of how gender influences the life chances of local people.
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is responsible for the government's overall strategy on equality as well as women’s issues throughout government.
Factsheet – on GEO website relating to the budget, and what it means for women and equalities groups
Read a recently published paper 'Gender and Transport in the South West', which makes the case for an equality impact assessment and or gender audit. This is to be undertaken in relation to public transport.
Gender and Transport in the South West – on the Equality and Diversity Forum
Read a report from Cambridge University looking at the inter-relationships between gender, space and the form and function of the built environment. 'Planning and the Gender Equality Duty – why does gender matter?' explores ongoing research to reflect examples where gender is taken into account when planning policy and practice.
Planning and the Gender Equality Duty – why does gender matter? – on the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR)
Oxfam has developed a series of nine papers looking at how education and gender can contribute to improving policy development and practice. The papers present new learning and examples of good practice, with recommendations for action. They have been developed by the Beyond Access: Gender, Education and Development Project, a project by Oxfam GB, the Institute of Education, University of London, and Department for International Development (DFID).
Beyond Access: Gender, Education and Development Project – on the Oxfam website
Case studies and articles
Bolsover’s work in supporting women suffering from domestic violence
Helping to support women experiencing domestic violence in Bradford
Promoting gender equality in Waltham Forest
Improving transgender awareness in Tower Hamlets
Reviewing gender equality in Tower Tamlets
Related articles
A Resource for Developing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) – on the Department of Health (DH) website
The Department of Health, Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers has published the above guide for providing high-quality Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) for victims of sexual violence and sexual abuse, including forensic medical examination. The guide replaces the National Services Guidelines for (SARCs) and Getting Started.
Trans Research Review – on the EHRC website
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched a new review of evidence that captures the experiences and challenges facing transgender people in Britain. The Trans Research Review highlights that some transgender people experience transphobia including bullying and discriminatory treatment in schools, harassment and physical/sexual assault and rejection from families, work colleagues and friends.
What the Government are doing to end violence against women – on the Home Office website
The above consultation from the Home Office is to raise awareness, and to generate debate on what more could be done together to end violence against women, and overcome its far-reaching impact. The results will be published soon.
Are women bearing the burden of the recession? – on the Fawcett Society website
The Fawcett Society recently published the above report which calls on the government to take urgent action to counter the impact of the recession on women.
Women and Recession – on the TUC website
The TUC briefing on ‘Women and Recession’ asks how recession will affect women at work. The briefing argues that responses should focus on ‘acting to protect women’s jobs, fair treatment for women facing redundancy, enforcing employment rights, support for unemployed women to access and understand benefits; and creating new opportunities for women.’
Poverty Pathways: Ethnic minority women’s livelihoods – on the Fawcett Society website
'Poverty Pathways: Ethnic minority women’s livelihoods' was published by the Fawcett Society and Oxfam with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The report looks at why ethnic minority women as a group experience considerably higher rates of poverty than white women in the UK.
Gender Variance in the UK – on the GIRES website
The Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) has published a report which will improve the evidence base about the likely extent and location of transphobic crime. It aims to alert providers and commissioners of healthcare to the growing needs among transsexual people from specialised medical services.
Interview with four well-known female activists – discussing the cultural changes they have seen over the last 40 years in feminism, sexuality and politics on 'The Guardian' website
Pacesetters Programme Equality Impact Assessment: Draft for consultation – on the Department of Health (DH) website
Pacesetters is a collaboration between the DH, the NHS and local communities that aims to address patient and workforce inequalities that arise from discrimination and disadvantage. The above consultation seeks views on a draft equality impact assessment on the Pacesetters programme.
Women Leaders and Gender Parity Programme – on the World Economic Forum website
The World Economic Forum operates a Women Leaders and Gender Party Programme, which is committed to promoting women’s leadership and closing global gender gaps. The programme strives to increase the participation of women in the Forum’s activities by ensuring their involvement as members in communities and inviting female leaders to be active contributors to the global dialogue.
BRIDGE – for more information on the website
BRIDGE supports gender advocacy and mainstreaming efforts of policymakers and practitioners by bridging the gaps between theory, policy and practice with accessible and diverse gender information.
Siyanda – Mainstreaming Gender Equality – for more information on the website
Siyanda – Mainstreaming Gender Equality is an online database of gender and development materials from around the world. It is also an interactive space where practitioners can share ideas, experiences and resources.
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/gender_equality_duty_c...
http://www.pfc.org.uk/files/gender_public_sector_duty_draft_CoP.pdf