The Race Relations Act protects individuals from racial discrimination and harassment and creates a right to challenge discrimination in the courts or at an employment tribunal. It is unlawful for a person to discriminate against another person on racial grounds - this means race, colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins.
The Act also makes racial discrimination by public bodies and organisations illegal and requires them to have policies to promote racial equality. The EHRC provides information and advice to people who believe they have suffered racial discrimination or harassment. They work with public bodies, businesses and organisations from all sectors to promote policies and practices that help to ensure equal treatment for everyone.
The commission's website can provide you with more information about race discrimination, your legal rights and what to do if you are being discriminated against.
The Act was ammended in 2000 to include a duty for public authorities to promote racial equality through:
- promoting equality of opportunity
- working towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination
- promoting good relations between persons of different racial groups
To read the full act, click HERE
