Equality and Diversity
The Single Equality Scheme
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has developed a Single Equality Scheme which sets out the Comhairle’s commitment to equality and diversity in the delivery of services, including access to those services and its obligations as an employer.
The Comhairle has an obligation, a legal responsibility, to publish Disability, Gender and Race equality schemes. The three schemes demonstrate that the Comhairle takes appropriate action to deliver better outcomes for people, take steps to eliminate unlawful discrimination and how the Comhairle actively promotes equality.
The Comhairle previously developed separate equality schemes for the areas of disability, gender and race. These schemes have now been replaced by a single equality scheme and associated action plan to address the protected characteristics as prescribed by the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act outlined a general duty that requires public authorities to pay due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination, victimisation, harassment or other unlawful conduct that is prohibited under the Equality Act 2010;
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a characteristic and those who do not; and
- Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
The protected characteristics are: age; disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex and sexual orientation. Marriage and civil partnerships are protected on the requirement to eliminate discrimination only.
Specific duties for Scottish public sector authorities will be outlined by the Scottish government later in 2011.
