Government Equalities Office & EHRC Newsletters

• Specific duties to drive the better performance of the Public Sector Equality Duty laid before Parliament
• Red Tape Challenge: Time is running out!
• Sports stars show homophobia and transphobia the red card
• GEO consultations now closed

On 5 April 2011 the Government brought into force the public sector Equality Duty, for public bodies in Great Britain. To assist public bodies in the better performance of the Equality Duty, the Government has laid before Parliament for approval The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011. These new and improved regulations will require public authorities in Great Britain to publish:

· Equality objectives, at least every four years, by April 2012; and

· Information to demonstrate their compliance with the Equality Duty, at least annually.

The Duty and the specific regulations mark a significant step towards putting the Government's new equality strategy into practice.

Our aim is to use the Duty as a tool to empower public sector organisations to move away from the tick box and form filling of the past, and instead to encourage them to take responsibility for their own performance and to be accountable to the people and communities that they serve.

We will work closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure that clear non-statutory guidance is available to public authorities to help them to comply with these regulations. We will also be providing new support to help people, in particular from the voluntary and community sector, use the new regulations.

We are grateful for the many comments we have received on the draft regulations, and Ministers have also announced to-day that we will review the working of these regulations in 2013 to check they are delivering the transparency and accountability we are seeking.

To read the Written Ministerial Statement, please follow this link: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/parliamentary-business/written-ministerial-statement/equality-duties-regs-wms/?view=Standard&pubID=904605

For more information about the Public Sector Equality Duty, please follow this link: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010/public_sector_equality_duty.aspx

The equality theme on the Red Tape Challenge website, which is part of this Government's commitment to transparency and growth, is scheduled to close on Thursday 30^th June.

Over 5,000 responses have been received to date and we would like to thank everyone who has responded this far.

Members of the public, businesses and voluntary and community organisations who have yet to respond are encouraged to do so by visiting http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ and submitting their views how the Act is working in practice and whether it could be simplified or better implemented.

Once the equality theme has finished we will be reviewing all comments and liaising with our key partners to discuss next steps.

Any proposals for change would receive careful consideration as to whether they were proportionate, practical, beneficial and in keeping with our wider commitments and EU or domestic legal obligations. Any proposals that passed that test would then need to go through the normal consultation and Parliamentary process.

Sports personalities including Gareth Thomas, Ben Cohen and Billie Jean King pledged their commitment to tackling homophobia and transphobia in sport last week at a Downing Street reception hosted by the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

Stars and sports organisations signed the Government's Charter for Action at the event to celebrate Gay Pride.

The charter commits signatories to working to rid sport of homophobic and transphobic abuse on the stands and on the field and challenging discrimination so that everyone can take part in and enjoy sport.

It is aimed at anyone and everyone involved in sport - whether you are a national sporting body or a five-a-side sports team; whether you are a referee or coach or whether you play sport; or whether you just enjoy watching it.

Please help us ensure we collect as many signatures as possible by:

1.) Signing up to the Charter either through our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/lgbtsportcharter, or the GEO website at http://www.equalities.gov.uk/news/minister_shows_red_card_to_hom.aspx

2.) Inviting your friends and colleagues to sign up too

3.) Coming to sign the charter at our Pride London stall this Saturday (2nd July)

4.) And promoting the Charter through your organisation's newsletter, website or/and twitter page

For more information about the Downing Street reception, please follow this link:

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2011/06/pm-shows-red-card-to-homophobia-in-sport-65048

Over the last few months, the Government Equalities Office has held four important consultations:

1.) Equality Act 2010: Banning age discrimination in services, public functions and associations;

2.) Strengthening Women's Voices in Government;

3.) Access to Elected Office for Disabled People, and

4.)Building a fairer Britain: Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

These consultations have now closed, and we would like to thank all of you who have contributed. We greatly appreciate your interest and engagement. We are in the process of reviewing all contributions, and will respond formally to all of them in the autumn.

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