The Gender Equality Duty - The Equality Act 2006

The Gender Equality Duty (GED), which is part of the Equality Act 2006, came into force in April 2007 and it requires that public authorities promote gender equality and eliminate sex discrimination. The duty places a legal responsibility on public authorities to demonstrate that they treat men and women fairly. The duty will affect policy making, public services and employment practices such as recruitment and flexible working.

The Gender Equality Duty will require public bodies to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination; and
  To promote equality of opportunity between women and men
• The Gender Equality Duty will improve gender equality in the following areas:
• Employment issues such as promotion, the pay gap, maternity related discrimination and sexual harassment
• Improved access to services and more focus on the needs of service users Improved data collection and monitoring
• More effective targeting of resources