We support organisations in meeting their statutory duties under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Section 75), ECNI guidance, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, and best-practice guidelines on equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights across NI, UK, ROI and EU standards.
We also help organisations avoid compliance breaches by providing training on EQIAs, anti-discrimination, inclusive service design, accessibility, community engagement, cultural competence and inclusive policy development.
Contact UsPublic authorities must:
Promote equality of opportunity for protected groups.
Carry out Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) to assess whether policies or decisions have a positive, neutral, or negative impact on groups such as:
ethnic minorities
disabled people
women
other protected categories
ECNI is the recognised authority on equality obligations for public bodies.
ECNI requires public bodies to:
Use robust EQIA processes, including:
• formal consultation with affected communities
• evidence gathering
• assessment of alternative options
• documentation of decisions
Create and monitor Equality Schemes and Strategic Equality Plans.
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 (Northern Ireland)
Public bodies must ensure full accessibility to services, information, and physical environments.
This includes:
• Reasonable adjustments for mobility, visual, hearing, learning and cognitive impairments
• Inclusive communication practices
• Access-inclusive service delivery
(NI: under Section 75 / UK: Equality Act 2010)
Public bodies must:
• Actively consider equality and good relations before making decisions
• Embed diversity into recruitment, policy development, and service delivery
• Report on equality outcomes and ensure transparency
Public bodies are expected to deliver ongoing training for staff, especially frontline workers and policymakers.
Training should cover:
• Anti-discrimination
• Recognising bias
• Cultural competence
• Inclusive practice
• Understanding the needs of minority groups (e.g., refugees, LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities, disabled people)
ECNI and best-practice frameworks require public bodies to:
• Engage marginalised communities prior to making policy decisions
• Conduct accessible consultations
• Build ongoing partnerships with community and advocacy groups
Gender Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland
Public bodies are expected to:
• Address gender gaps in pay, employment, education and leadership
• Improve services for women facing multiple disadvantages
• Provide support for victims of gender-based violence
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 (UK)
Public bodies must consider social value when procuring goods and services.
This includes:
• Supporting minority-owned businesses
• Creating opportunities for disadvantaged groups
• Considering social, economic, and community impact
Public organisations are expected to:
• Address racial inequalities across education, health, housing, employment
• Implement anti-racism policies
• Train staff to recognise and respond to racism
• Ensure culturally sensitive services
Public bodies must ensure:
• Equal access to services for trans and gender-diverse people
• Respectful service delivery, including name and gender recognition
• Staff training on trans inclusion
• Gender-neutral or inclusive facilities where appropriate
