Creating a fairer Britain A duty on the public sector to promote
gender equality was introduced across Britain in 2007 following
similar duties in relation to race and disability in 2002 and
2006. This means that all public bodies, including Local
Authorities, should be assessing the needs of women and men and
taking action to meet these needs. Local authorities should
carry out research on prevalence and use other local information
to help them do this. The Equality and Human Rights Commission
has published guidance on the Gender Equality Duty. Under the
Sex Discrimination Act it is permissible to limit the provision
of facilities or services to one sex in a number of
circumstances, including services provided by women’s refuges if
they are providing special care comparable to that provided at a
hospital, as would rape crisis centres if they were providing
medical or psychiatric care. It is also lawful to provide single
sex services where female users are likely to suffer serious
embarrassment at the presenc