ABOUT THE EQUALITY ACT REVIEW
The Equality Act Review Campaign is conducting a review of the Equality Act 2010 with the aim of amending this landmark anti-discrimination legislation. The Act protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership (workplace only), pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. At present, the Act does not incorporate factors such as homelessness, low socio-economic status and/or poverty, caste, or immigration status, all of which can give rise to unequal treatment in the workplace or in public places where goods and services are provided, especially when and where they intersect with already protected characteristics. Additionally, procedures for the implementation of the Act make it difficult for people with protected characteristics to use the Act to rectify cases of unlawful discrimination. Unfortunately, it is failing real people and real lives.
What we aim to change
01
Addition of characteristics that are not already protected, and the modification of existing characteristics to align with the current social environment, ten years on from the writing of the initial legislation. New characteristics could include: homelessness, low socio-economic status and/or poverty, caste and immigration status.
02
Addition of characteristics that are not already protected, and the modification of existing characteristics to align with the current social environment, ten years on from the writing of the initial legislation. New characteristics could include: homelessness; low socio-economic status and/or poverty; caste; immigration status; and others as appropriate. Modifications could include extending the period during which pregnancy and maternity are protected.
03
Requirement for a mandatory parliamentary review of the Act every ten years so that similar updates may be made periodically to ensure its continued relevance and protection of all people in the UK against discrimination.