Equality duty: mainstreaming report 2023-2025

Conclusion

The Scottish Government’s commitment to mainstreaming equality is foundational to our vision of a fairer, more inclusive Scotland. As reflected in this report, significant progress has been made in embedding these principles across all aspects of our work, demonstrating the impact of collective effort, strategic planning, and organisational dedication.

From strengthening policy development and decision-making to fostering cultural change within the organisation, our approach to mainstreaming has evolved to meet the needs of Scotland’s diverse communities. By prioritising transparency, accountability, and collaboration, we have built a framework that not only complies with our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Specific Duties Regulations but also reflects our moral responsibility to champion fairness, dignity, and respect.

The examples highlighted in this report showcase the breadth of our efforts, offering tangible evidence of progress while also pointing to areas for further development.

The introduction of the 2025-29 Equality Outcomes as a separate, forward-looking document is a deliberate step toward clearer accountability and more impactful action planning. This separation ensures that we can reflect meaningfully on past achievements while setting ambitious yet realistic goals for the future.

Looking ahead, the Scottish Government remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing equality and tackling prejudice and discrimination. Our newly established Equality Outcomes will serve as a roadmap for the next phase of our journey. With robust support structures, such as the Mainstreaming Unit and the Equality and Human Rights Senior Leadership Group, alongside continued investment in staff development, we are well positioned to meet these ambitious goals.

Mainstreaming is an ongoing commitment to improvement, learning, and adaptation. We recognise that challenges remain and that further significant progress is needed to address systemic inequalities and realise our vision for an inclusive Scotland. The work outlined in this report reinforces our confidence in the direction we are heading and in our ability to lead by example.

The continuing emphasis on integrating equality into everything we do aims to create an organisation—and a society—that values and celebrates diversity, empowers all individuals to thrive, and ensures that no one is left behind. This report serves not only as a reflection of past achievements but as a call to action for the future. Together, we can build a Scotland that truly embodies fairness, dignity, and respect for all.