Annual report on equality and non-discrimination 2003. Towards diversity

Summary:

A concerted effort is being made in the European Union to stamp out discrimination and to make the basic principle of respect for fundamental human rights a reality. New laws will soon come into force in all EU countries to protect the right of everyone in the EU to be treated equally and fairly no matter where they are from or where they live and work.

European laws - called directives - banning discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation were agreed in 2000. Governments in every country must now modify their own national laws to bring them into line with these directives before the end of 2003. Each country can decide how best to do this according to their national traditions and legal systems.