Relevant Legislation and Codes of Practice for Eqaulity and Diversity

An overview of equality and diversity legislation

Equality and diversity legislation exists for each of the equality strands of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief and age. An overview of some of the key legislation, for each equality strain, is detailed here. You can click on the link to access the legislation listed.

Race

Race Relations Act (1976) & Race Relations (Amendment) Act (2000)

This Act and its Amendment makes discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin unlawful. It covers people from all racial groups, including white people.

Following the Amendment (2000), it includes more public authority functions and places a general duty on public authorities to promote race equality.

Race Relations Act (1976) (Amendment) Regulations (2003)

This Amendment further enhanced the legislation, updating the definition of indirect discrimination.

Racial and Religious Hatred Bill (2005)

This Bill was introduced to make it illegal to threaten people because of their religion, or to stir up hatred against a person because of their faith. It is designed to fill gaps in the current laws, which already protect people from threats based on their race or ethnic background.

The Bill passed successfully through the House of Commons and the House of Lords on 31 January 2005 and should become law soon. The final Bill was altered by the Lords in two key ways:

• Only threatening words or behaviour will be classified as criminal. Generally abusive or insulting words about religion that are not actually threatening will not be illegal; and

• The burden will be on the prosecution to prove the speakers intended to stir up racial hatred – the bill has strong safeguards for free expression.

Any prosecutions under the Bill will also have to be approved by the Attorney General.

Gender

Sex Discrimination Act (1975)

This Act applies to women and men of any age, including children,...