Gender Equality duty comes into force

The Equality Act 2006  amended the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 by adding a ‘statutory duty’ to be fulfilled by ‘public authorities’. Section 84(1) stated that:

 A public authority shall in carrying out its functions have due regard to the need—

(a) to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment, and

(b) to promote equality of opportunity between men and women

 

Known as the ‘gender equality duty’, it came into force in 2007, operating alongside the race equality duty which had come into force in 2001, and the disability equality duty of 2006.