CERES: Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland Accessibility and Display Options and Information
CERES: Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland 
Back to menu
New Legislation
[Religion & Sexual Orientation] [Key developments in 2007/8]
Religion and Sexual Orientation
The introduction of new legislation such as The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 - is a major step forward in tackling unfair discrimination in the UK. The Regulations implement strands of the European Employment Directive (Council Directive 2000/78/EC).
The Department of Trade and Industry site is helpful for those managing institutions.
For employers, the Advisory,Conciliation and Arbitration Service ACAS site has helpful information in the new legislation but also on a range of equality related legislation.
Teachers and other educators will also find the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) site helpful. Though the ECU site is aimed at higher education institutions in the UK, there is useful background information and examples of how the law can impact on practice. There is particular guidance for religion and belief and palso for sexual orientation.
Key developments in equality legislation in 2007/8
The Discrimination Law Review in 2007 was used to review the multitude of equality laws and to make recommendations on bringing them together in a Single Equality Act. A Green Paper on this is expected in late 2008. More information can be found on the Government Equalities Office webpage http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/dlr/index.htm.
The Equality Act 2006 came into force in 2007, creating the Equality and Human Rights Commission and new provisions on the Gender Equality Duty, and prohibiting of discrimination in relation to goods, facilities and services on grounds of religion or belief. The Scottish Government produced Guidance for Schools in August 2007
The Equality Act 2006 (Sexual Orientation Regulations) 2007 came into force prohibiting of discrimination in relation to goods, facilities and services on grounds of sexual orientation.
The Scottish Government published their Gender Equality Scheme in 2007. There is a Education Gender Equality Toolkit which is helpful for schools.
The Racial and Religious Hatred Act came into force in England and Wales in 2007, making incitement to religious hatred an offence.
A new UK Government Equalities Office and the position of Secretary of State for Equality was created in 2007, bringing together work on gender, disability, age, and sexual orientation. Responsibility for race and faith work remains with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) given the links to the community cohesion agenda.”
Forthcoming
Hate crimes laws to be extended. Hate crime legislation is to be strengthened to protect disabled people and those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities.
The Scottish Government has given its backing to Green MSP Patrick Harvie's proposal for a Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill.
[Religion & Sexual Orientation] [Key developments in 2007/8]