Public Sector Equality Duties & Protected Characteristics

Public Sector Equality Duties 

The Equality Act 2010 broadens the Public Sector Equality Duties (PSED) to cover all protected groups (except Marriage and Civil Partnership). Section 149 requires public bodies like the University to:

1. Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act.
2. Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
3. Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

In addition to the general duties, specific duties were passed by Parliament in 2011. These require the University to publish evidence of how it has complied with the general duties and to publish Equality Objectives.

• The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has produced guidance on the new Public Equality Duties. These relate to:

1. The essential guide to the public sector equality duty
2. Meeting the equality duty in policy and decision-making

Protected characteristics

The Equality Act 2010 replaced the previous equalities legislation that evolved over the preceding 45 years. It replaced nine statutes (including The Equal Pay Act 1970, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Acts 1975 and 2000, the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005) and over 100 other pieces of legislation.

The protected characteristics under Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 are:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender Reassignment
• Marriage and Civil Partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race
• Religion or Belief (including no belief)
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation

Key Principles of Equalities Law

This section explains some of the principal concepts underpinning UK equalities law.  Click on the links to find out more.

• Direct Discrimination
• Indirect discrimination
• Harassment
• Racial harassment
• Victimisation
• Perceptive Discrimination
• Associative Discrimination
• Third-Party Harassment
• Positive Action

Freedom of Speech

The University is committed to protecting the dignity of all its staff, students and visitors and will not tolerate bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct or victimisation.  These behaviours are defined in the University's Dignity at Work Policy and its Code of Behaviour and the Rules of Behaviour for students.

The University is also committed to freedom of thought and expression and all staff should familiarise themselves with the principles set out in the University’s Statement on Freedom of Speech.