Equality and diversity
Perth & Kinross Council is currently reviewing and updating
the equality framework to reflect the changes introduced by the
Equality Act 2010.
This Council works to ensure that we pay due regard to
eliminating discrimination, harassment, victimisation or any other
prohibited conduct, advancing equality of opportunity by removing
or minimising disadvantage, meeting the needs of particular groups
that are different from the needs of others, encouraging
participation in public life and fostering good
relations.
There are nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act and
these include disability, sex, race, sexual orientation, gender
reassignment, age, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and
maternity and religion and belief.
You can get further information about the Equality Act and
related codes of practice and guidance on the Equality and Human Rights Commission's
website.
When the Scottish Specific Duties are published this year they
are expected to set out the arrangements the Council will put in
place to meet all the new duties. Current indications are
that the Scottish Duties will be published in April 2012.
In the meantime the Council continues to progress equality and
one of the key documents reflecting equality activity in the
Council is the Interim Equality Strategic Action Plan.
A copy of the six monthly progress report to February 2012 for
this will be published here shortly. All Council services are
currently progressing their Service Level Equality Action Plans and
developing new Service Level Equality Action Plans in line with all
the new duties.
