The Highland Council’s first Gender Equality Scheme is a central part of the Council’s wider Corporate Equality strategy. The Council recognises that promoting equality will improve public services and employment opportunities and aims to ensure that:
- Equal opportunities is central to service provision and employment, and that equal opportunities objectives are included in all its corporate and service plans, and
- That these objectives will be reflected in policies and procedures. Services will be required to integrate equality into the service planning process, putting it at the heart of policy making, service delivery, and employment practices. A planned approach to equality and reports on progress will result in delivering quality services that respond to the needs of communities and individuals.
The Gender Equality Duty
The Equalities Act 2006 introduced new duties on the public sector to promote gender equality. When carrying out their functions this new duty requires public bodies to pay regard to the need to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination on the grounds of sex, and
- promote equality of opportunity between men and women
There are additional duties on many public bodies which include the need to publish a Gender Equality Scheme by 29th June 2007 and an Equal Pay Policy Statement by 28th September 2007. The Council is expected to show in the scheme how it has:
- Consulted with stakeholders in the development of the scheme;
- Taken into account any information it has gathered, for example in relation to employment and education; and
- Considered the need to have objectives to address the cause of any gender pay gap.
The Highland Council’s Gender Equality Scheme will help us to meet the requirements of legislation and sets out our plans to improve gender equality for men and women in employment and services delivery. It is about taking steps to promote gender equality for all and ultimately about providing better services for all. The scheme sets out how we will meet our commitments and contains outcomes and objectives accompanied by a plan for action. It will also ensure that we continuously monitor and improve the ways in which we deliver services and that the needs and views of women and men and boys and girls are taken into account.
The Council’s first Gender Equality Scheme has a number of key objectives that aim to:
- Develop a culture to promote equality between men and women, girls and boys;
- Challenge gender stereotypes;
- Ensure gender equality is considered in all its activities;
- Tackle the potential for unlawful gender discrimination and harassment.
Further Information, comments and contact details
The Council would welcome any comments and feedback on this Scheme. If you wish to comment, or would like a full copy of the Scheme, or to request information in another format or language, please contact:
Rosemary Mackinnon
Equal Opportunities Officer
The Highland Council,
Glenurquhart Road,
Inverness, IV3 5NX
Tel: 01463 702094 Fax: 01463 702830
Email: rosemary.mackinnon@highland.gov.uk