## Learning Outcomes

- Understand the UK principle of equality and the right to live free from unfair discrimination
- Identify the main groups protected from discrimination and where these protections apply
- Recognise common forms of discrimination, including harassment and victimisation
- Know where to get help and advice if you face discrimination in the UK

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand equality and anti-discrimination in the UK, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that UK residents should treat everyone equally regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class, or sexual orientation
- Understand that the UK offers freedom from unfair discrimination as a core right
- Identify the main areas where equality laws apply, such as work and access to services
- Know that the Equality Act 2010 is the main anti-discrimination law in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
- Know that Northern Ireland has separate equality laws and separate equality bodies
- Know where to get help (for example, Citizens Advice and the relevant equality commissions)

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. Name four characteristics that UK equality laws protect people from being treated unfairly because of.
2. In which parts of the UK is the Equality Act 2010 the main anti-discrimination law?
3. What is the difference between an arranged marriage and a forced marriage in UK law?
4. Name one organisation you can contact for advice if you face discrimination.
5. Give one example of where discrimination could happen outside the workplace.

## Introduction

Equality is a central expectation of life in the UK. Living in the UK means respecting other people’s rights and freedoms, treating others fairly, and rejecting intolerance. The UK also protects people through laws that make unfair discrimination unlawful in everyday life, especially at work and when using services.

For the Life in the UK Test, you should know both the values (treating people equally) and the practical protections (what the law covers and where to get help).

> **Key Term: discrimination**
> Unfair treatment of a person because of who they are, such as their sex, race, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

### Equality as a UK value and responsibility

Equality is not only a legal rule; it is also a shared expectation in daily life. The UK’s fundamental principles include tolerance of people with different faiths and beliefs, and individual liberty. These ideas support the wider responsibility to treat everyone fairly.

When you settle permanently in the UK or become a citizen, you are expected to respect the rights of others and behave responsibly in your community. In practice, this includes:

- treating people equally in social and community settings
- respecting differences in religion or belief, background, and lifestyle
- avoiding prejudice, harassment, and intimidation

The UK also sets clear legal limits. Some harmful practices are criminal offences and are not excused by “tradition” or “culture”, including domestic violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), and forced marriage.

> **Key Term: forced marriage**
> A marriage where one or both people do not (or cannot) give full and free consent; forcing someone to marry is a criminal offence.
>
> **Test Tip:** In the test, questions may mix “values” and “law”. If a question asks what the UK expects of residents, choose options about fairness, tolerance, and equal treatment. If it asks what is illegal, choose the option that clearly states a criminal offence (for example, forced marriage or FGM).

### The legal framework: Equality Act 2010 and human rights

In the UK, equality is supported by both human rights protections and specific anti-discrimination laws.

A key step in modern rights protection was the Human Rights Act 1998, which brought the rights from the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Public bodies and courts must follow these principles. While the Human Rights Act is about broad rights (like freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial), equality laws focus on preventing unfair treatment in daily situations such as employment and services.

In Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), the main anti-discrimination law is the Equality Act 2010. It brings together (and strengthens) earlier laws so that there is one main set of rules covering discrimination in many common situations.

Northern Ireland is different: the Equality Act 2010 does not generally apply there. Northern Ireland has its own equality laws and its own enforcement bodies.

> **Key Term: Equality Act 2010**
> The main law against discrimination in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), protecting people from unfair treatment in work and many services.

### Who is protected: the “protected characteristics” (Great Britain)

Under the Equality Act 2010, discrimination is unlawful when it is linked to a protected characteristic. For test purposes, you should be confident recognising the list and the everyday words used for it.

Protected characteristics in Great Britain include:

- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race (including nationality, and ethnic or national origins)
- religion or belief (including lack of belief)
- sex
- sexual orientation

The Life in the UK materials also commonly express equality in simpler social terms, such as treating people equally regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class, or sexual orientation. You may see either style in questions, so learn both.

In Northern Ireland, protection exists too, but it is handled through separate laws. Northern Ireland equality law also has strong focus on religious belief and political opinion as protected grounds, reflecting the region’s history.

> **Test Tip:** A common trap is assuming one law covers the whole UK. Remember: Equality Act 2010 = Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate equality laws and separate equality bodies.

### Where discrimination laws apply in everyday life

Equality protections are most likely to be tested in contexts you will recognise from daily living:

Work (employment)

- recruitment and job adverts
- pay and working conditions
- training and promotion
- dismissal and workplace discipline

Services and public life

- shops, banks, restaurants, and hotels
- public transport
- healthcare and education
- housing services (for example, being treated fairly by a letting agent)

Public authorities and public services are expected to treat people fairly and follow the law. For example, the police are required to behave lawfully and must not commit racial discrimination.

### Common types of unlawful discrimination (what it looks like)

In exam questions, you are often asked to identify a situation that counts as discrimination. The law uses several concepts; you do not usually need detailed legal wording for the test, but understanding the difference helps you choose the correct multiple-choice option.

Direct discrimination  
This is when someone is treated worse than another person in a similar situation because of a protected characteristic. For example, refusing to interview someone because of their race or religion.

Indirect discrimination  
This can happen when a rule applies to everyone but disadvantages people with a protected characteristic. For example, a workplace rule that unintentionally disadvantages some religious groups might be unlawful unless the employer can justify it.

Harassment  
Harassment is unwanted behaviour linked to a protected characteristic that makes someone feel intimidated, humiliated, or offended. Harassment can happen at work, in education, or when receiving services.

Victimisation  
Victimisation is treating someone badly because they made a complaint (or supported someone else) about discrimination.

These ideas are frequently tested through simple scenarios. The question will often describe a situation and ask what type of unfair treatment it is, or whether it is lawful.

### Disability and fairness: “reasonable adjustments”

Disability is specifically protected under equality law. The law also recognises that equal treatment sometimes requires changes to remove barriers.

A key principle is the duty to make reasonable adjustments. This means that if a disabled person faces a substantial disadvantage compared with a non-disabled person, an employer or service provider may need to take reasonable steps to reduce or remove that disadvantage.

Examples include:

- providing information in an accessible format
- changing a policy that creates an avoidable barrier
- providing an auxiliary aid (such as specific equipment) where reasonable
- making physical access changes where reasonable (for example, ramps or alternative access routes)

You do not need to memorise technical definitions, but you should understand that disability protection often includes adapting arrangements so that disabled people can use services and participate fairly.

### Equality and the criminal law: zero tolerance of abuse

Some “rights and responsibilities” questions link equality to protection from violence and coercion. These topics are included because they reflect UK law and expectations for safe family life.

Domestic violence  
Violence and brutality in the home are serious crimes. A person can be prosecuted for violence towards a partner, whether married or living together, and whether the victim is a man or a woman.

Rape within marriage  
In the UK, a husband can be charged with rape if he forces his wife to have sex. Marriage is not a defence.

Female genital mutilation (FGM)  
FGM is illegal in the UK. It is also a criminal offence to take a girl or woman abroad for FGM.

Forced marriage  
Forced marriage is a criminal offence. It is different from an arranged marriage, which is acceptable when both people freely consent.

> **Key Term: arranged marriage**
> A marriage where families may help choose a partner but both people freely agree; this is legal in the UK.

These points matter for the test because they show that the UK protects individual liberty and bodily autonomy. Consent and safety are legal requirements, not personal preferences.

### Getting help: where to go if you face discrimination

If you experience discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment, there are organisations that can provide information and support. The test expects you to know that support exists and to recognise key organisations.

Citizens Advice  
Citizens Advice can provide practical information on problems such as discrimination at work, housing issues, consumer disputes, and legal processes. They can also explain options and where to get specialist help.

Equality bodies (depending on where you live)

- Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales): Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
- Scotland also has: Scottish Human Rights Commission
- Northern Ireland: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland also has: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

In urgent situations involving safety (for example, domestic violence), you should contact the police. Support services and refuges may also be available in many areas, and national helplines exist for domestic abuse support.

### Practical exam thinking: spotting the best answer

Life in the UK questions are often short and designed to test recognition, not detailed legal analysis. Use these strategies:

1. Identify the protected feature  
   If the scenario mentions sex, race, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation, think “equality law” and “unfair discrimination”.

2. Identify the setting  
   Workplace? Recruitment? A service like a shop or bank? Education? These are common areas where discrimination protections apply.

3. Separate “unfair” from “illegal crime”  
   Discrimination is unlawful and can lead to complaints, tribunals, or court claims. Some behaviours are also criminal (like forced marriage, FGM, domestic violence). If the question describes violence or coercion, it is likely testing criminal law, not only equality.

4. Check for the Northern Ireland distinction  
   If the question asks specifically about the Equality Act 2010, remember it applies in Great Britain, not Northern Ireland.

> **Test Tip:** If two answers both sound “fair”, pick the one that uses key phrases like “treat everyone equally” and “freedom from unfair discrimination”, which appear often in test materials.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Equality is a key UK value linked to tolerance, individual liberty, and treating others fairly
- The UK offers freedom from unfair discrimination as a core right
- The Equality Act 2010 is the main anti-discrimination law in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
- Northern Ireland has separate equality laws and separate equality bodies
- Equality protections cover unfair treatment in areas such as work and access to services
- Discrimination can include direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation
- Disability discrimination can require reasonable adjustments to remove barriers
- Forced marriage is a criminal offence, while arranged marriage is legal if both people consent
- FGM is illegal in the UK, including taking someone abroad for FGM
- Help and advice are available from Citizens Advice and the relevant equality and human rights commissions

## Key Terms and Concepts

- discrimination
- forced marriage
- Equality Act 2010
- arranged marriage


Rights and responsibilities - Equality and anti-discrimination