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Equality Agenda

Background

The Equality Agenda is made up of three areas: Equality Obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a statutory obligation on Public Authorities to carry out all our functions with due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and good relations in respect of religious belief, political opinion, gender, race, disability, age, marital status, dependents and sexual orientation. To implement this obligation, we have produced an Equality Scheme drawn up by the Department and approved by the Equality Commission.

The Department's Equality Scheme can be found at: DRD Equality Scheme Opens in a new window(835KB)

When a person believes that he/she has been directly affected by a failure of the Department to comply with the Equality Scheme he/she is free to make a complaint. Details of how to make a complaint can be found at: the DRD Web Site under Complaints Procedure Opens in a new window

The Department's Equality Scheme commits the Department to submitting a formal review of progress, on an annual basis, to the Equality Commission, setting out the action taken to fulfil Section 75 commitments. Copies of previous reports to the Equality Commission can be found below

Five Year Review of Equality Scheme

The Department recently conducted a five year review of its Equality Scheme. The report which issued to the Equality Commission can be found below.

Full details of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 can be found at:

Revised Guidance for implementing Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 was published in February 2005 by the Equality Commission. This revised guidance and information on the Equality Commission can be found on their website at www.equalityni.org Opens in a new window