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Everyone different, everyone matters

Gender

The Gender Equality Duty came into force on 6 April 2007. All public authorities in England, Wales and Scotland must demonstrate that they are promoting equality for women and men and that they are eliminating sexual discrimination and harassment. The Council have produced a single Equality and Diversity Scheme that includes our responsibilities under the Gender Equality Duty.

Further resources

• Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)|
  Acas is an organisation, which helps employers and employees on employment relations issues - such as discipline and grievance handling, preventing discrimination and communicating effectively in workplaces.
• Directgov: Sex discrimination and equal pay|
  Directgov brings together the widest range of public service information and services online. Produced by the Central Office of Information, and provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave to special educational needs and local NHS services.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission |
  The Equality and Human Rights Commission champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society. They offer advice and guidance on any issue related to putting equality into practice.
• Government Equalities Office|
  A Government Equalities Office has been established to strengthen further the Government's ability to deliver across the entire equalities agenda. 

Transgender

The Gender Recognition Act 2004 came into force on 4 April 2005. This Act applies throughout the UK and enables transsexual people to apply to a Gender Recognition Panel for a Gender Recognition Certificate.

The acquired gender of applicants will be recognised in law from the date on which they are granted a full Gender Recognition Certificate by the panel. The panel are part of the Tribunals group of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

The holder of a Gender Recognition Certificate can enjoy all the rights appropriate to a person of his or her acquired gender.

Further resources

• Equality and Human Rights Commission |
  The Equality and Human Rights Commission champions equality and human rights for all, working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society. They offer advice and guidance on any issue related to putting equality into practice.
• Gender Recognition Panel|
  The Gender Recognition Panel assesses applications from transsexual people for legal recognition of the gender in which they now live.
• Gender Recognition Act|
  The purpose of the Gender Recognition Act is to provide transsexual people with legal recognition in their acquired gender.

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