Gender Equality Duty and Scottish Criminal Justice – EOC Guidance

The Gender Equality Duty (GED) came into force in April 2007. It requires all public authorities to demonstrate that they are promoting equality for women and men, in terms of policy making, service delivery, regulation and employment, and that they are eliminating sex discrimination. The SCCJR worked with the EOC to develop the EOC Guidance and we have developed web based flowcharts to be read in conjunction with the Guidance. These flowcharts aim to provide an interactive tool for practitioners, students and users of the criminal justice process.

The web-based flowcharts are a means of representing the key stages in the criminal justice process, from first reporting of a suspected offence through to trial and beyond. The terms of the Gender Equality Duty require that agencies take steps to recognise the potential for discriminatory behaviours and actions, and the flowcharts can be used as a tool to indicate where and how in the process the Gender Equality Duty may need to be taken into consideration.

The notes that accompany each of the flowcharts indicate the key agencies involved in decision-making. The notes in red highlight where the Gender Equality Duty may be particularly useful.  References are also provided to relevant legislation. The flowcharts are not definitive but are to be used as a means of allowing criminal justice agencies and organisations to reflect on whether their actions, decisions or procedures at each particular stage fully embrace the requirements of the Gender Equality Duty. The flowcharts can be accessed at www————-88s9n.hosts.cx < http://www————-88s9n.hosts.cx > .

The Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland is providing sector specific guidance for criminal justice agencies to ensure that they meet the criteria.  This guidance is available from the EOC website – www.eoc.org.uk/genderduty < http://www.eoc.org.uk/genderduty >

Project Documents Flowchart 1 Flowchart 1 Guidance Notes Flowchart 2 Flowchart 2 Guidance Notes Flowchart 3 Flowchart 3 Guidance Notes