Policy - Equality and Human Rights

Age Concern Northern Ireland's role in the Changing Ageing Partnership is to develop an Equality and Human Rights Unit. 

Age Concern Northern Ireland’s vision is of a society where older people are valued, respected and participate as active and equal citizens.  Equality and human rights can play an important role in meeting our strategic priorities which are:-

• Defeating ageism and recognising diversity
• Reducing poverty and fighting disadvantage
• Addressing social exclusion, community safety and promoting effective public services 

The Equality and Human Rights Unit will equip older people’s organisations with skills to become more effective advocates on behalf of the older community in general.  It will also mainstream older people’s issues through recognition of multiple identity issues and the need to assist 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 seperate 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, make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of age in the areas of employment, vocational training and further and higher education