Equality and human rights mainstreaming: equality impact assessment
This equality impact assessment (EQIA) results report provides a summary of the key findings from the detailed work undertaken to assess potential equality impacts of the equality and human rights mainstreaming strategy, action plan and toolkit.
Recommendations and Conclusion
Actions and Changes Implemented
The equality impact analysis did not identify any areas of unlawful discrimination arising from the Action Plan. However, several potential risks of indirect exclusion were identified — particularly for older people, disabled people, people with lower literacy, and minority ethnic communities with limited English proficiency who are likely to find it more challenging to access and engage with the Mainstreaming Action Plan.
Mitigating actions focus on accessibility, but in this iteration of the Action Plan the EQIA also looks more widely at how the Plan can be used to identify and address systemic gaps in equality and human rights practice across the Scottish Government. This learning will directly inform what the future governance framework must capture and monitor to make sure equality and human rights are fully embedded in Government’s systems and processes.
Key commitments include:
- Publishing the Action Plan in multiple accessible formats (HTML, Easy Read, BSL summary).
- Providing printed copies on request.
- Offering translation on request.
- Ensuring inclusive and neutral language throughout, avoiding assumptions that could exclude or alienate any protected group.
- Using the findings from this EQIA to identify where governance arrangements should monitor accessibility, participation, equality data, and accountability in future updates.