South West Regional Equality Networks

One of the central aims of Equality South West has been to establish and support Regional Equality Networks that represent people who share the 'protected characteristics' that are covered within UK equality legislation.

These are age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Within these groups, issues of discrimination concerning pregnancy and maternity and marriage and civil partnership status are also dealt with by the relevant networks.

Our goal is to provide support which enables effective, dynamic equality networks to represent their 'communities of interest' and influence public policy at local level, in regional discussions, and nationally.

It is important that each network recognises, and is able to address the multiple layers of discrimination that can affect members of their communities. For example, a black, disabled woman will have different experiences to a non-disabled white woman, or a black man. It is important that all perspectives are understood and represented.

The Equality Act 2010, goes some way to recognising the complexity of people's identities by introducing the concept of dual discrimination into the law. It has also brought key protections (introduced in earlier legislation) into line across the nine protected characteristics..

Equality South West aims to reflect these developments by encouraging better understanding between network members and ensuring that cross-cutting themes are addressed.