Equality Legislation
The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
The Act covers nine protected characteristics and every person has one or more of these protected characteristics, so the Act protects everyone against unfair treatment.
The nine 'protected characteristics' are:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion/belief
- sex
- sexual orientation.
As part of the Equality Act 2010, public authorities must comply with the Public Sector Equality Duties and Scotland Specific Duty. Public authorities must consider how their policies or decisions affect people who are protected under the Equality Act.
Public Authorities must work to
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act
- advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
The launch of Equal ΎΕΙ«, our new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Framework 2026-2030, will support us in meeting the general and specific duties placed on us as part of the Equality Act 2010.