The 9 Grounds of Discrimination

Focus on Social Inclusion: The 9 Grounds of Discrimination

By NOLLAIG MURPHY Development Officer

The right to equality and to be free from discrimination is a central feature of major international human rights treaties. In general terms equality is concerned with removing the barriers that block opportunities for certain groups of people. In Irish law the grounds of discrimination are clearly laid out. Central to this is the idea that many people face barriers both visible and invisible. Therefore, when looking at exclusion, there is a need to remain aware of the idea of ‘less favourable treatment’ which is a central bench mark in assessing discrimination which can be assessed as direct and non-direct. There are two different areas of legislation that are referred to in relation to equality. The Employment Equality Acts outlaws discrimination at work and the Equal Status Acts outlaws discrimination outside the workplace. The following points are of note: Gender – Discrimination on ‘gender grounds’ happens where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another due to their gender status.

Civil status - Discrimination on the ‘civil status ground’ happens where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another person because they are of different civil status.

Family status - Discrimination on the ‘family status ground’ occurs where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another person because one person has a family status and the other does not. ‘

Sexual orientation - Discrimination on the ‘sexual orientation grounds’ happens where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another person because they are of different sexual orientation.

Religion - Discrimination on the ‘religion ground’ happens where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another person because one has a different religious belief, background or outlook from the other, or that one has a religious belief, background or outlook and the other has not.

Age (does not apply to a

person under 18) - Discrimination on the ‘age ground’ occurs where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared with another person because they are of different ages.

Disability – Discrimination on the ‘disability ground’ occurs where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another person because one has a disability and the other has not, or the other has a different disability

Race: Discrimination on the ‘race ground’ occurs where there is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another person because they are of different race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins.

Membership of the Traveller

community: Discrimination on the ‘Traveller community ground’ occurs where one person is treated less favourably than another because one is a member of the Traveller community and the other is not. Inclusion is based on the principle that everyone has an equal right to participate in our society, by keeping the above key points in mind, diversity and equality can be protected.

This project is supported by the Communities Integration Fund.