Equality and Diversity
Within the section you can find out about our policies and plans for equality and human rights, and about specific work we are carrying out in relation to the different areas of equality.
Marking National Holocaust Day
During January 2012 artsderbyshire is organising a whole range of events to mark this important day and to promote awareness of the diverse communities which make up Derbyshire. Find out more information about Speak Up Speak Out (opens in a new window).
Equality Act 2010
The first set of provisions of the Equality Act 2010, covering employment and the delivery of goods and services, and public functions, came into force in October 2010.
The act brings together equalities duties from the last 30 years and attempts to create parity so that all of the new "protected characteristics" groups get the same levels of protection.
In particular, the new law improves protection for:
disabled people and their carers and families
pregnant women and new mums
transgender people
Public Sector Equality Duty
Under the new public sector equality duty we must carry out a range of general and specific duties. The general duties require us to have due regard for the need to advance equality; eradicate discrimination and other forms of 'prohibited conduct' and to promote good relations between people from a protected characteristic group and those who are not.
The specific duties require us to publish information each January to demonstrate how it is meeting its general duties, and we must publish four yearly objectives, commencing by 6 April 2012.
For more information on the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector Equality Duty, please go to the pages on this site entitled Equality objectives and Public duty to promote equality
More information about the new Equality Act can also be found on the websites for the Government Equalities Office (opens in a new window) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (opens in a new window).
If you have any queries relating to equalities please contact:
John Cowings
Senior Policy Officer - Equalities
Tel: 01629 538384
email: john.cowings@derbyshire.gov.uk