General Information

Discrimination and the Law

The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates the 18 articles of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Article 14 relates to the right and freedom not to be discriminated against on the grounds of a range of categories.

Discrimination can be based on age, disability, faith/religion, gender, race/ethnic/refugee communities and sexuality.

Islington Council will not perpetrate or tolerate discrimination of any kind.

Age

Islington has a relatively young population with only around 10% of its community over the age of 65. Islington has the second highest proportion nationally of those in the 30 to 44 years age range. The average age of the population is just under 35 years.

Age is often used to define a person's capability and role in society. Older people (aged 50+) are often marginalised, ignored or disadvantaged because of their age. Assumptions about abilities and motivations are also made about young people because of their age. Age discrimination limits staff performance and affects the quality of service.

The proposed Employment Equality Regulations (Age) will become law in December 2006. This will outlaw discrimination on the grounds of age and may result in the abolition of compulsory retirement at 65 years of age.

10% of Islington's population is over the age of 65.

Disability

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 defines disability as any physical, sensory or mental impairment, which seriously affects (a person's) day-to-day activities. This applies both to people who currently have a disability and to those who have had a disability in the past. The DDA aims to protect disabled people from discrimination in employment and access to goods, facilities and services. 

The social model of disability, as promoted by the Disability Rights Commission, underpins Islington's approach to service provision. This model is based on an understanding that the poverty, disadvantage and social exclusion experienced by disabled people is not the inevitable result of their impairment or medical condition, but rather stems from the way society is organised.

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 places a duty on public authorities to actively promote disability equality. The council is now required by law to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and others, eliminate disability related harassment, promote positive attitudes toward disabled people and encourage participation of disabled people in public life.

Approximately 16% of Islington residents define themselves as disabled.

Faith and Religion

The 2001 Census shows that just over half of the residents of Islington declare themselves to be adherents of the Christian religion, while just over one third claim either no religious belief (23%) or make no statement regarding religion (10%). After Christianity, the most commonly practiced religion in terms of number of believers is Islam with 8% of the resident population.

Some faith communities suffer discrimination and prejudice due to their beliefs and appearance. From 2 December 2003, new legislation has been enacted, outlawing discrimination on grounds of religion and belief in the areas of employment and training.

The Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (Religion/Belief) make it unlawful for the employer to discriminate on the grounds of (perceived) religion or belief. This covers discrimination on the basis of any religion, religious belief or similar philosophical belief.

Gender

As 52% of Islington's population is female, prejudice based on gender stereotyping means that gender discrimination can be very widespread. As a result, women, and sometimes men, can find themselves facing inequality when it comes to pay, access to services, responsibilities, levels of safety and other areas. Such discrimination can directly affect life choices.

The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies to both women and men. It makes discrimination unlawful in employment, vocational training, education and the provision of facilities, services and housing.

Race, Ethnic and Refugee Communities

Islington is a visibly diverse borough. The 2001 census found that 24.7% of Islington residents define themselves as having a black and minority ethnic (BME) background.

According to a 2002 language survey in the borough, 115 languages are spoken by Islington's school children.

The most significant BME groups are Black African, Black Caribbean and Bangladeshi. Islington also has the eighth highest proportion of residents in the census category 'other white'. Many of the people in this category are Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Racial discrimination can be perpetrated by anyone belonging to any race against members of any other race, although black and minority ethnic communities disproportionately experience racial discrimination.

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a positive duty on public bodies to promote race equality. The council is now required by law to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equal opportunities as well as harmonious relations between people of different cultural groups.

Black minority ethnic (BME) communities constitute almost 25% of Islington's population.

Sexuality

Estimates drawn from sociological and commercial surveys show that between 5% and 10% of the UK population define themselves as gay and lesbian. Surveys also indicate that Islington has one of the highest concentrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country.

Islington Council was acknowledged in Stonewall's 2006 Top 100 Index as London's joint number-one gay-friendly local authority employer, and is ranked third of all local authorities in the UK. Islington is eleventh overall in Stonewall’s list of 100 private and public organisations.

The Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (Sexual Orientation) makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate on the grounds of (perceived) sexual orientation.