Religion or belief

Relevant EU Directive:

Directive 2000/78/EC.

The prohibition of discrimination based on religion or belief does not only cover members of and activities linked to officially recognised churches, but according to the European Court of Human Rights it extends to views that attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance. Depending on the circumstances, discrimination against certain religious groups may also be seen as discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin.

Example:

Examples can include discrimination due to wearing religious clothing, harassment during the provision of services or the lack of accommodating religious needs.

March 19, 2019

Equality Bodies and Equinet – Promoting Equality in Europe

Equinet Brochure 2020 What are equality bodies? Why do we need them? What challenges do they face? This brochure aims to raise awareness about the role of […]
January 8, 2019
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Extending the Agenda. Equality Bodies addressing Hate Speech

Hate speech and hate crime are growing and damaging phenomena across Europe. This is recognised in the work of the European Commission and of the Council of Europe. European standards for equality bodies recommend that their mandate be extended to include hate speech. Few equality bodies have an explicit mandate on hate speech, many have, however, interpreted their mandate to include hate speech. This situation can leave them lacking the competences and resources required to make an impact.