Equality Impact Assessments and the Public Sector Equality Duty: Briefing for a new government
This briefing sets out why equality impact assessments are needed, what the law requires and current government practice.
UK Policy Briefing
This briefing sets out the current state of women and equalities architecture in government
It essential that women’s voices are heard and their interests represented at the heart of government. This is not just a moral imperative but an economic and legal one. Failing to take account of equalities in policy delivery and design can lead to negative unintended consequences and policy that fails to achieve its objective – as well as breaching equalities law.
After years of economic instability, much of which has fallen heaviest of the shoulders of women, this Government has an opportunity to reset and improve the machinery of government so that it better represents and serves women and other protected groups.
This starts with government itself where the Minister(s) for Women and Equalities must be empowered to mainstream a gender-responsive approach to policymaking from a position of cross-government authority. This should include new and improved training and delivery of equality impact assessments and action plans – as part of strengthened equality duties. This work should be informed and delivered alongside civil society who are best placed to ensure policy reflects the needs and lives of the people affected. Meanwhile, the Chancellor should pioneer a new approach to gender-responsive budgeting and pre-budget scrutiny – to be extended to local authorities and all devolved powers.
Outside of government, institutions established to ensure the transparency and accountability of women and equalities work must be resourced and empowered to do so. The Equality and Human Rights Commission needs sufficient funding to meet its obligations and the Women and Equalities Select Committee must be used to maximum effect to hold government to account.
The UK Women’s Budget Group and our sister organisations in the devolved nations have been calling for improved gender-responsive governance since our inception. This briefing is aimed at the new Government in hopes the UK can turn the page on decades of largely ‘gender-insensitive’ policymaking which is failing especially the most marginalised women. We aim to work with the UK Government to make these changes and improve the lives of women in Britain with a feminist approach to economics and social policy.
This briefing sets out why equality impact assessments are needed, what the law requires and current government practice.
This report lays out a roadmap to building a new economy. Laying out the what, the why and the how, this report is a call to action.