Gender Equality Scheme

The Equality Act 2006 introduced the Gender Equality Duty for all public authorities including Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. The duty applies to policy-making, service provision, employment matters and in relation to enforcement or any statutory discretion and decision-making.

The gender equality duty came into force in April 2007 and is the biggest change in sex equality legislation in thirty years, since the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act itself.

More specifically, the duty requires the Council to produce a gender equality scheme that:

• Promotes equality of opportunity;
• Eliminates discrimination and harassment;
• Promotes positive attitudes;
• Encourages participation in public life.

The Gender Equality Scheme is the document that will set out how the council will comply with the gender equality duty. The scheme is published below;

 (pdf 127K)

With the involvement of service users and employees, the scheme will aim to:

• Identify the barriers faced;
• Set priorities for action plans;
• Assist planning activities;
• Assess the impact of existing and proposed policies and monitor the success of initiatives undertaken.

The aim of the gender equality duty is to ensure that as a public authority, in everything we do, we make every effort to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity between men and women.