We have developed a number of policies to promote equality and respect for diversity and use a range of tools to monitor and evaluate our progress in mainstreaming these.

We believe the best way to manage equal opportunity and diversity is to ensure that they are built into all processes and functions, considered part of all policy decisions, and present in the planning of all programmes from start to finish. This is what we mean by mainstreaming equality and diversity principles and practices.

The policies and tools we have developed to help us reach our goals include:

			Our Equal Opportunities Policy (MS Word, 103 KB) Our Equal Opportunities Policy helps to ensure that there is no unjustified discrimination in the recruitment, retention, training and development of staff on the basis of gender, marital status, sexual identity, religion and belief, political opinion, ethnicity/race, work pattern, age, disability or HIV/AIDS status, socio-economic background, spent convictions, trade union activity or membership, or on the basis of having or not having dependants. Our Equal Opportunities Policy benefits employees and potential employees and helps achieve dignity at work and contributes to providing the best possible services to partners and clients.
			Diversity Strategy (MS Word, 91.5 KB) Our Diversity Strategy is underpinned by the belief that external relationships with clients, customers and partners throughout the world should reflect the standards and behaviours by which we manage diversity internally. The strategy corresponds with the UK Government’s own vision of inclusion and diversity where every individual is able to fulfil their potential and make their contribution to society, with an emphasis on promoting equality in an integrated way, taking account of the needs of all groups and providing protection for everyone.
			Our Integrated Equality Scheme (MS Word 108 KB) We have developed our Integrated Equality Scheme to help us promote equality and eliminate discrimination in the areas of gender, race and disability. As a UK public body we are legally required to promote equality in these areas, but because we are an international organisation, the scheme applies worldwide, not just in the UK.

We will report each year on the progress we have made towards mainstreaming equality and diversity principles and practices.

To find out more, visit:
www.britishcouncil.org/home-diversity.htm