Equality Act 2010
Equality Act 2010, Specific Duties to support the Equality Duty. What do I need to know? Quick start guide for public sector organisations
Forms for obtaining information:
Equality Act 2010 Protected characteristics
Under the Equality Act 2010 the previously known 'Equality strands' have become the protected characteristics and include the following:
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Age
Where this is referred to, it refers to a person belonging to a particular age (e.g. 32 year olds) or range of ages (e.g. 18-30 year olds)
Disability and carers
A person has a disability if s/he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Gender
A man or a woman. A reference to persons who share a protected characteristics is a reference to persons of the same sex.
Gender reassignment
The process of transitioning from one gender to another. A person has the protected characteristics of gender reassignment if the person is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning the person's sex by changing physiological or other attributes of sex.
A reference to a transsexual person is also a reference to a person who has the protected characteristics of gender reassignment.
Marriage and civil partnership
Marriage is defined as a 'union between a man and a woman'. Same-sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised as 'civil partnerships'. Civil partners must be treated the same as married couples on a wide range of legal matters.
Pregnancy and maternity
Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26 weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.
Race
Refers to the protected characteristic of race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.
Religion and belief - including lack of belief
Religion has the meaning usually given to it but belief includes religious and philosophical beliefs including lack of belief (e.g. Atheism). Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.
Sexual orientation
Whether a person's sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to either sexes.
There are also some useful documents on each of the characteristics on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website <http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/public-sector-equality-duty/resources-on-new-protected-characteristics/>
