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Increasing Awareness Campaign  - event held at the Institute of Directors 16 October 2006

The Gender Equality Duty comes into force on 6 April 2007.   It has been described as the biggest advance in sex equality for over 30 years. From next year, public authorities will be under a general duty to have “due regard” to the need to eliminate discrimination and harassment and promote equality of opportunity between men and women in all their public functions.

To launch the Women and Equality Unit's (WEU) Increasing Awareness campaign, an event aimed at leaders of public authorities (PAs) was held at the Institute of Directors on 16 October.  Angela Mason, Director of the Women and Equality Unit in opening the event, described the duty as a 'thinking duty'.  Public authorities would need to look at their policies and practices differently and more closely and be more proactive, rather than reactive to complaints, about eliminating discrimination and promote equality of opportunity between women and men.

Meg Munn MP, Deputy Minister for Women in closing the event encouraged PAs to continue to embrace the spirit of the duty.   Although she acknowledged the efforts made by many in implementing gender equality practices, the Minister encouraged all public authorities to use the available guidance material to ensure that they are in a position to successfully implement the duty from April 2007. 

WEU are continuing to partner other organisations (e.g. public and voluntary sectors) to further increase public sector awareness of the duty and what it will mean for women and men - either as employees or customers. 

To view some of the pictures taken at the event click here

Meg Munn MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality

Angela Mason, Head of Women and Equality Unit