Library : Legislation - Faith

Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 The regulations cover direct and indirect discrimination as well as the handling of harassment at the workplace because of a person's religion or belief. The regulations recognise very specific circumstances in which holding certain religious or other beliefs will be a genuine occupational requirement. Equality Act 2006 Part 2 of the Equality Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods, facilities and services, education premises and the exercise of public functions. The Act also alters the definition of religion or belief as set out in the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 so as to protect individuals from being discriminated against on the grounds of "lack of belief" (effective October 2006). Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 This Act makes it unlawful to stir up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs or lack of them. These can include criminal acts, antisocial behaviour, abuse or harassment or the display of written material that is threatening, abusive or insulting with the intention or likely effect of stirring up hatred. One of the key objectives of the Act is to close the loophole where race legislation protects mono-ethnic groups such as Jews and Sikhs but not multi-ethnic faith groups such as Muslims.