Equality law 

The main pieces of equality legislation in Northern Ireland are:

• Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (as amended)
• Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (as amended)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended)
• Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (as amended)
• Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (as amended)
• Northern Ireland Act 1998
• Equality (Disability, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 
• Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003
• Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005
• Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
• Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006
• The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Codes of Practice have been developed covering many of the key areas. European Directives, wider European Community legislation and international obligations also affect people´s equality rights.

Click here to access links for a range of other institutions, organisations and service providers offering legal advice on equality and employment-related issues. 

Click here for a list of equality law in Northern Ireland.  Please use the back button on you browser to navigate back to this page.