خلاصہ
The Equality Act 2010 consolidated and replaced previous anti-discrimination legislation including the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976, and Disability Discrimination Act 1995. It provides a single legal framework for protection against discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in employment, education, the provision of services, and the exercise of public functions. It defines nine protected characteristics and prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
اہم نکات
- Nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, sexual orientation (s.4)
- Direct discrimination: treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic (s.13)
- Indirect discrimination: applying a provision, criterion or practice that disadvantages people with a protected characteristic (s.19)
- Harassment: unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic violating dignity or creating an intimidating environment (s.26)
- Duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled persons (ss.20–22)
- Public sector equality duty: public bodies must have due regard to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality (s.149)
- Equal pay provisions: sex equality clause implied into contracts (s.66)
- Nine protected characteristics (s.4)
- Direct discrimination (s.13), indirect discrimination (s.19)
- Harassment (s.26) and victimisation (s.27)
- Duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled persons (ss.20-22)
- Public sector equality duty (s.149)
- Positive action provisions (ss.158-159)
- Equal pay provisions (Part 5, Chapter 3)
- Occupational requirement exceptions (Schedule 9)
- Nine protected characteristics
- Direct and indirect discrimination
- Harassment and victimisation
- Reasonable adjustments for disability
حصے اور دفعات
ترامیم کی تاریخ
2012 — Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
Repealed the employer's liability for third-party harassment (s.40(2)–(4)) and introduced a requirement for claimants in disability discrimination cases to show they were placed at a substantial disadvantage.
2017 — Various case law developments
Case law has expanded the scope of disability to include conditions such as HIV (from diagnosis), cancer (from diagnosis), and multiple sclerosis.