Policy - Equality and Human Rights

The policy strand of the Changing Ageing Partnership focuses on equality and human rights. 

This strand equips older people with skills and information to become effective advocates for older people's human rights throughout Northern Ireland. The policy strand mainstreams older people’s issues through the recognition of thier multiple identities and assists public, private and voluntary organisations to develop age neutral policies and practices.

Equality Legislation

In Northern Ireland there are two key pieces of legislation covering age. These are the statutory equality duty of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

• Section 75 places a duty on public authorities / government agencies to promote equality of opportunity on nine separate equality grounds: age, disability, dependent status, marital status, racial group, religion, sex, sexual orientation and political opinion.

• The Employment Equality Age Regulations, which came into force on 1 October 2006, makes it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of age in the areas of employment, vocational training and further and higher education

We are continuing to develop work on other key policy initiatives, including legislation to ban age discrimination in goods, facilities and services, a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and a powerful Older People's Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

To find out more about our current programme of work or to get involved, please contact Elaine Campbell on 028 9023 0666 or email: elaine.campbell@ageconcernhelptheagedni.org