To be treated equally is a basic right for everyone. If you are being treated unfairly due to someone else’s prejudices, this is known as discrimination. It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of their race, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnicity, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, disability or age. Discrimination of any kind can include physical attacks, verbal abuse or written abuse.

Racial equality

It is unlawful for a person to discriminate on racial grounds against another person. The law defines racial grounds as including race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins.

Gender equality

Unlawful sex discrimination happens when someone is treated unfairly because of their gender. Women, men and transsexual people can all experience sex discrimination.

Sex discrimination also includes treating someone less favourably because they are married or in a civil partnership: for example, by not hiring married women.

Disability rights

All disabled people have the same rights as able-bodied people. If you are disabled, or have had a disability, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) makes it unlawful for you to be discriminated against in:

• employment
• trade organisations and qualifications bodies
• access to goods, facilities and services
• the management, buying or renting of land or property
• education.

There are also DDA regulations dealing with buses, coaches and trains, which set out access standards for those vehicles to help people with mobility or sensory impairments, and learning disabilities.

Age equality

Unlawful age discrimination happens when someone is treated unfavourably because of their age, without justification, or is harassed or victimised because of their age.

An example of discrimination would be when an employer refuses to offer a job to a young candidate, even though the candidate has the skills and competencies required for it. The employer sees the position as one of authority and does not feel the young candidate will be respected or taken seriously because of their age.

If you think you are being discriminated against for any reason, seek advice and act on it. Keeping quiet won't solve the problem. For more information, visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission's website or call them on 0845 604 6610.