Launch of consultation on the biggest change to sex equality legislation in 30 years

Launch of consultation on the biggest change to sex equality legislation in 30 years

Launch of consultation on the biggest change to sex equality legislation in 30 years

The UK Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has launched a three-month consultation on the Gender Equality Duty – the most significant change to gender equality legislation in 30 years. The Commission is encouraging public sector bodies to participate as fully as they can in the consultation, to ensure that the new law is workable in practice and delivers real benefits for all those who use and are employed by the public sector.

The gender equality duty will come into force in April 2007. It is a key component of the DTI’s Equality Bill, which was expected to come into force in February 2006. It will require public bodies to eliminate sex discrimination and promote equality throughout their services, policies, and employment and recruitment practices – responding to the sometimes different needs of men and women. The new law, therefore, has the potential to transform public services – including health care, transport and education – and help close the pay gap between women and men.

The EOC’s consultation process is a vital opportunity for public sector bodies to have their say on how the law will work. Specifically, the EOC is asking for equality practitioners to give their opinions on the Duty’s Code of Practice, which will explain how to implement the duty and integrate it into day-to-day operations.

The Duty will require public bodies to deliver services and policies that take into account whether men and women have significantly different needs. The result should be public services which genuinely respond to the different needs of the people they provide for. Examples of the kind of practices which this might lead to are:

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  Provision of GP clinics in locations typically frequented by men: barber shops, football grounds, pubs, commuter stations, race tracks and sports clubs.

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  Increased training for medical staff to identify symptoms in men/women of diseases not typically associated with their gender – such as heart disease in women.

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  Improved town planning and transport provision to meet the safety concerns of women.

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  Better transport access for women, who use off-peak transport to access schools, shopping facilities and healthcare, as well as safer stations.

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  Improved provision of medical support, counselling and legal assistance aimed at women who have been the victims of rape, domestic violence or assault.

From an employment perspective, the new law will require public bodies to collect a broader range of information about equal pay, sexual harassment, occupational segregation, fair promotion and development opportunities and family-friendly working arrangements – and take action to address the issues found. This should lead to more efficient and effective public services.

Jenny Watson, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: “The Gender Equality Duty could radically transform the way public bodies deliver services and treat their staff, moving away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach.” It has the potential to create public services truly fit for modern Britain, which meet both women’s and men’s different needs.

“The Duty is there to help public bodies make this happen. We want to hear from users now, so that we can make the code of practice as practical, straightforward and user-friendly as possible. We would like to see widespread participation in the EOC’s consultation to ensure the new law fulfils its promise.”

The online consultation ran from 15 February to 15 May 2006. More detail is available at: www.eoc.org.uk/genderduty