Protected Characteristics
The nine grounds protected from discrimination under section 4 of the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Discrimination, harassment, and victimisation related to these characteristics are unlawful.
The protected characteristics each have specific definitions in the Act: 'disability' includes physical or mental impairment with substantial adverse effect on day-to-day activities likely to last 12+ months (s.6); 'race' includes colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins (s.9); 'gender reassignment' covers people proposing to undergo, undergoing, or having undergone the process (s.7). Some protections are absolute (e.g. direct discrimination cannot be justified except for age and in specific cases). The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces the Act through investigations, audits, and litigation.