Public sector equality duty factsheet

Single Public Sector Equality Duty

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) came into force on 5 April 2011.  The PSED consists of a general equality duty, contained in the Equality Act 2010, and further specific duties, as set out by secondary legislation. 

The PSED replaces the three separate public equality duties previously in force: Gender Equality Duty, Race Equality Duty and Disability Equality Duty.

The new single duty covers gender, race and disability and extends to cover age, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. Therefore, for the first time, public sector bodies are required to demonstrate equality across all protected characteristics.