An Introduction to Equality and Diversity

Points for today

• Understand the legislative requirements of The Equality Duty

• Understand the difference between Equality & Diversity

• Some Equality Statistics• An introduction to Language and

Communication• Understand why EQIA is important• Other points of interest• Know who can help you

Background Legislation• Equal Pay Act (1970)• Sex Discrimination Act (1975)• Race Relations Act (1976) • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991)• DDA (1995) • Children’s Act (Scotland) 1995 • Disability Duties (December 2005 )• Race Relations Amendment Act (2000)• Trades Union & Labour Relations Consolidation Act (1992)• Scotland Act (1998)• Human Rights Act (1998)• Employment Act (2000)• Part-time workers regulations (2000)• Gender Recognition Act (2004)• Gender Duties (2007)• EU Regulations (2003) for Sexual Orientation, Religion and

Faith and (2006)Age• Patients Rights Bill (2008)

Combined Public Sector Duties require NHS Boards to ensure that they:

Promote equality of opportunity.

Eliminate unlawful discrimination

Eliminate harassment

Promote good relations between people of different communities

Encourage participation by disabled people in public life.

Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people.

Take steps to meet disabled people’s needs, (even if this requires more favourable treatment).

• Age

• Disability

• Gender

• Race/Ethnicity

• Religion/Faith

• Sexual Orientation

Equality Strands

• Women & Men

• Black & Minority Ethnic • People

• Children & Young People

• Older People

• Disabled People

• Lesbians

• Gay men

• Bisexuals

• Transgender people

• People of different faith & • religious backgrounds

Target Groups

• Poverty

• Mental Health

• Homelessness

• Involvement in the Criminal Justice System

• Marital/Relationship Status

• Language or Social Origins

Cross Cutting Issues

Scottish Government Guidance

Changing times…..

Disability

Religion

Sexual Orientation

Gender

Race

Age

Diversity

Glasgow : A Multicultural CityGlasgow : A Multicultural City

Definitions • Equality is about creating a fairer society where everyone

can participate and has the opportunity to fulfill their potential. It is mostly backed by legislation designed to address unfair discrimination based on membership of a particular group.

• Diversity is about the recognition and valuing of

difference in its broadest sense. It is about creating

a culture and practices that recognise, respect, value

and harness difference for the benefit of the patients, carers, members of the public and members of staff.

Disease StatisticsPeople of Indian and Pakistani origin living in Scotland have an increased incidence of 60-70% of having a heart attack

(Bhopal 2006)

The incidence of Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Minority Ethnic communities in Glasgow is 8% compared to 3% in the indigenous population.

(NRCEMH 2004)

Race/Ethnicity

• 42% of the total Scottish black & minority population live in Greater Glasgow & Clyde

• 5.2% of Glasgow’s population are from Black Minority Ethnic communities (not including asylum seekers).

• 0.7% of Glasgow’s population are Chinese. • The Irish are the largest ethnic minority group

in the UK.