Protected characteristics
The Equality Act covers nine ‘protected characteristics’:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and Maternity
- Race
- Religion and belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Public sector equality duty
Within the Act, the public sector equality duty (PSED) requires HEIs, when carrying out their functions, to give due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not
- Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not
The broad purpose of the duty is to integrate consideration of equality and good relations into the day-to-day business of public authorities.
Public sector equality duty in the devolved nations
Each nation has a set of specific duties that underpin the public sector equality duty and instruct HEIs how to demonstrate that they are delivering on the duty.
England
- The institution’s equality objective/s to further the PSED. Objectives must be specific and measurable.
- At least annually, information to demonstrate compliance with the PSED.
Northern Ireland
- The institutions’ revised equality scheme every five years, and annual reports on progress.
- Equality impact assessment results and actions on an ongoing basis.
Scotland
- The institution's new equality outcomes every four years.
- Every two years:
- progress on delivering its equality outcomes.
- progress on mainstreaming equality and its employee equality data.
- disability, gender and race pay gap and occupational segregation information.
Note that the above can be published in separate or combined reports.
- Equality impact assessment results and actions on an ongoing basis.
Wales
- The institution’s strategic equality plan, which must include the institution’s equality objectives and an action plan on gender pay difference, every four years.
- Annual report on compliance with the PSED.
- Equality impact assessment results and actions on an ongoing basis.
Find out more about Overseeing EDI