The Race Equality Duty - Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

In 2001, the Race Relations Act was amended to give public authorities a new statutory duty to promote race equality. This duty to promote race equality is commonly referred to as the ‘Race Equality Duty'. This is a generic term and refers to the general statutory and the various specific duties that were introduced by way of statutory instruments.

In order to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, promote equality of opportunity between persons of different racial groups and promote good relations between persons of different racial groups, the Race Equality Duty requires the College to:

• Decide which of its services and policies are relevant to the general duty
• Assess and monitor its services and policies, including services and policies it is proposing to introduce, to make sure that they are not affecting some groups negatively, and that all communities are satisfied with them
• Deal with evidence that its services and policies are not in line with the general duty
• Consult the general public and particularly involve ethnic minorities at all stages
• Deal with complaints about the way it is meeting the duties, or other complaints about racial equality
• Publish the results of its assessments, consultations and monitoring
• Make sure that everyone, whatever their ethnic background, has access to information about the authority and its services
• Ensure that all its staff understand their responsibilities under the duty
• Carry out a review of the scheme
  

The Act and its accompanying guidance explicitly state that this duty creates an obligation to be proactive and this applies not only to the organisation but also to every individual working for the Organisation.