An equality impact assessment (EqIA) is a process designed to ensure that a policy, project or scheme does not unlawfully discriminate against any protected characteristic.

Definition

The EqIA process aims to prevent discrimination against people who are members of a protected category. The Equality Act 2010 defines 9 protected characteristics: Race Religion or Belief Disability Sex Gender Reassignment Sexual Orientation Age Marriage or Civil Partnership Pregnancy and Maternity

Within the UK, EqIAs is a means of ensuring that the public sector equality duty is met. On 19 November 2012, then Prime Minister David Cameron announced that EqIAs would no longer be undertaken for government decisions.BBC News. URL accessed 19 November 2012.

See also

Social Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment Health Impact Assessment Sustainability Appraisal Equality Act 2006 Equality Act 2010 Equal Opportunity

References

Further reading

Bainard, J., Jones, A., Bateman, I., Lovett, A. & Fallon, P. (2001) Modelling environmental equity: access to air quality in Birmingham, England Environment and Planning A 2002, volume 34, pages 695 – 716

Burningham, K. & Thrush, D. (2001) Local environmental concerns in disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Capacity Global (2004) BME Communities Tackling Environmental and Social Inequalities

Davies, A. and Binsted, A. (2007) Environmental Equity and Equality Impact Assessment in the United Kingdom (07-1568) - TRB Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM, TRB 86th Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., January 2007

Friends of the Earth (2000) Pollution injustice

Friends of the Earth (2001) Pollution and Poverty – Breaking the Link

Gay, R., Jeffery, B., and Saunders, P. (2005) Burden of disease: environmental inequalities

Greater London Authority (2003) Equality Impact Assessments - How to do them

Transport for London (2004) Equality Impact Assessments - How to do them

Walker, G. Fairburn, J. Smith, G. and Mitchell, G. (2003) Environmental Quality and Social Deprivation

External links UK Equality Act 2006 UK Equality Bill 2009 IDEA EqIA guidance TfL EqIA guidance