Protected Characteristics

The Equality Act streamlines earlier equality legislation into one Act and introduces common definitions of discrimination. The nine 'protected characteristics' under the Act are:

• Age (all ages and age groups)
• Disability (physical and mental impairments)
• Gender reassignment (people undergoing gender reassignment or who are trans-gender)
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race (including ethnic or national origin, colour and nationality)
• Religion or belief (religious belief systems, non-religious belief systems and non-belief)
• Sex (women and men)
• Sexual orientation (gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual orientation)

Students and staff are protected from discrimination and harassment on these grounds. The Act also protects against discrimination by association and perception.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Act strengthens equality legislation by extending the public sector Equality Duty. Previously this duty has applied only in relation to race, gender and disability. From the 5th April 2011, the Equality Duty applies in relation to all of the protected characteristics listed above, (with the exception of marriage and civil partnership).

The Equality Duty has three aims. These are to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination
• Advance equality of opportunity between people from different protected groups
• Foster good relations between people from different groups

The University must have 'due regard' of these duties in the carrying out its functions, including teaching and learning, employment and delivery of services.

The University has further responsibilities under the Equality Duty to publish information on how it is complying with the Duty by 31st January 2012, and thereafter annually. It also must publish at least one equality objective by 6th April 2012 that it will achieve to meet the aims of the Equality Duty.

Implementing the Equality Duty

The University has developed an Equality Scheme that will set out its equality objectives. The Scheme has been developed in consultation with students and staff and following analysis of our equality data and benchmarking of good practice against the higher education sector. The Scheme will be approved by Council and published on this web site by April 2012.

Information on how the University is complying with the Equality Duty - including student and staff data in relation to the protected characteristics is available in the Publication of Equality Information Report 2012 (PDF 1.13 MB, opens in new window).