Equality and diversity in the UK

Legislation

This section outlines in brief the main equality legislation in the UK. The main pieces of legislation are identified and there are links to further information about each one:

Sex Discrimination Act 1975
This legislation outlaws discrimination on the grounds of gender or marital status in employment, training, education, the provision of goods and services and the management and dispersal of premises.  The Act outlaws direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.   
Race Relations Act 1976 and Amendment Act 2000
This legislation outlaws discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality and colour in employment, education, and the provision of goods and services.  In addition to the duty not to discriminate, since the Amendment Act in 2000 there has also been a positive duty on employers and providers of goods and services to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different races.   
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
This legislation defines disability as a 'physical or mental impairment that has a long-term adverse impact on someone's ability to carry out normal day-to-day duties' and outlaws discrimination on the grounds of disability in employment, education, the provision of goods and services and transport.  Employers and the providers of goods and services must put in place reasonable adjustments to meet the specific request of a disabled person that will facilitate their participation.   
Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003
These regulations outlaw discrimination in employment and vocational taining on the grounds of real or perceived religion or belief.  They outlaw direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.   
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
These regulations outlaw discrimination in employment and vocational training on the grounds of real or perceived sexual orientation.  They outlaw direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.   
Gender Recognition Act 2004
This legislation gives a transsexual person the right to live in their acquired gender and be legally recognised with a new birth certificate in their newly acquired gender.   
Civil Partnership Act 2004
This Act establishes a new legal relationship, which can be formed by two people of the same sex.  Same-sex couples who enter into a civil partnership will have parity of treatment in legal matters with opposite-sex couples who are married.   

Other
Key figures in Equality and Diversity Work – UK

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