Equality Impact Assessments
What is an Equality Impact Assessment?
An Equality impact assessment looks at a policy or procedure and sees if it discriminates or is likely to discriminate against somebody because of their Race, Gender, Disability, Age, Sexual Orientation, Religion and Belief and any other likely characteristic.
If it is found that a policy or procedure does discriminate against someone we will do what we can to eliminate, minimise or counterbalance the discrimination.
Why do we undertake Equality Impact Assessments?
There are several reasons why we conduct EIAs.. The benefits of impact assessment include:
- They help to analyse our services to see if there if reflective representation from our communities
- They assist us in considering alternative policies or measures that might address any adverse impact
- They help us to improve the way in which we develop our policies and functions by ensuring that they reflect the current equality & diversity legislative framework
- They help to identify direct or indirect discrimination
- They help us to better understand the needs and aspirations of the diverse communities we serve.
It is a statutory requirement.
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 RR(A)A requires local authorities to promote race equality in all its work. The specific duties stated in the Act for promoting race equality are:
- Eliminating discrimination
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Promoting good race relations
The RR(A)A therefore requires Councils to assess which of their policies and functions are relevant to race equality and set out how they will:
- Monitor policies for any adverse impact on race equality
- Assess and consult on the likely on proposed policies
- Make sure the public have access to information and services
- Train their staff in relation to the duty.
Equalities legalisation has now been extended so there is a statutory duty for gender and disability to conduct equality impact assessments. Our impact assessment process covers gender, disability, sexual orientation, age and religion and belief as well as race.
What is the end result?
The overall aim of conducting equality impact assessments are to eliminate discrimination. In addition equality impact assessments also help us to identify gaps in our services as use positive action to promote our services to communities that are under represented.. Working in this way helps us to integrate and mainstream equalities into our work. All the recommendations from a equality impact assessment are incorporated into the business plan for the service that conducts the assessment.
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