Gender

The gender equality duty was introduced into legislation in the Equality Act 2006, amending the Sex Discrimination Act. It meant that public bodies must have `due regard' to the need to:

• to eliminate unlawful sex discrimination and harassment (including for transsexual people)

• to promote equality of opportunity between men and women.

All public bodies were required to produce a Gender Equality Scheme showing how it intends to fulfil the general and specific duties. This scheme should also set out the gender equality objectives that the authority has identified for meeting the duty. The Gender Equality Scheme for Woking Borough Council outlines the duty in more detail.