Chapter 4: Ensure a healthy standard of living for all

Despite ongoing policy work that aims to tackle discrimination, promote inclusiveness and progress gender equality, women and girls continue to face multiple barriers to reaching their full potential. In particular, there are a wide range of issues linked directly and indirectly to deprivation. This chapter considers the legislation relevant to equality and diversity and examines the impact of poverty on life chances.

Legislation

In 2019, Government published 'Gender equality at every stage: a roadmap for change', but fell short of a Gender Equality Strategy. Alongside this roadmap, the 'Gender Equality Monitor' was published, bringing together a group of metrics from across government to monitor important gender equality issues in the UK.
(Government Equalities Office. (2019). Gender equality at every stage: a roadmap for change)

Government has provided assurances that equality rights and protections will remain even though the UK has left the EU. The 2010 Equality Act is the key legal instrument for equality in the UK, which bans unfair treatment and helps to achieve equal opportunities in the workplace and wider society.
(Government Equalities Office. (2013). Equality Act 2010: guidance.)

As such, the focus is for 'public bodies to address a complex range of inequalities including but not limited to gender'. Included in this change of focus, the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) replaced the Gender Equality Duty (GED). The PSED covers gender, race and disability equality duties and extends across nine protected characteristics: age; disability; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Gateshead Council published its Equality and Diversity Annual Report, which demonstrates compliance with the PSED, showing its 'due regard' to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. The report recognises the value of a society made up of many diverse groups and individuals and considers this diversity to be a strength of the borough, as well as setting out the steps needed to achieve equality in Gateshead.