Gender

In 2007 we published our Gender Equality Scheme (GES) which explains what we intend to do to promote equality of opportunity for men and women, boys and girls and transgender people in all that we do. We have taken positive action to promote equality between men and women and eliminate unlawful (direct and indirect) sex discrimination and harassment.

We reviewed our GES 2009 and the remaining targets were added to our Equality Scheme 2008 to 2011. For more information visit the social inclusion page.

Plymouth's population is the same as the national populatio, consisting of:

• 51 per cent women
• 49 per cent men

In March 2011, along with partners, we celebrated International Women's Day (IWD). The theme for Plymouth focussed on 'Celebrating Women through the Ages'. We set ourselves an ambitious and vibrant programme of events scheduled over the course of a week. These, together with long term projects were organised through a multi-agency steering group made up of local statutory, voluntary sector and third sector partners and women from the community.

Events

Some of the key events included:

• Civic ceremony - which gave women from all walks of life the oppotunity to interact and make links
• Health and wellbeing day - held in the city centre to raise awareness of women's issues
• Intergenerational fashion - that lead to Age Concern being recognised for a Spirit of Community aware for its intergenerational work
• Running sessions - targeted at women from most deprived communities
• University schools workshop - tackling stereotypical gendered roles