Along came a spider...

1.1. Introduction

1.2. 'Suspect' Grounds of Discrimination

1.CoE.1. ECtHR, 13 December 2005, Timishev v Russia, Timishev
1.CoE.2. ECtHR, 21 February 1986, James and Others v The United Kingdom, James

1.3. The Grounds of Discrimination

1.3.1. Introduction

1.3.2. Race; Ethnic, Racial and National Origin; Belonging to a National or Ethnic Minority; Skin Colour

1.3.2.A. Definitions

Race
1.AT.3. Austrian Equal Treatment Act. explanatory notes
1.CoE.4. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, ECRI General Policy Recommendation No 7 on national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination
1.NL.5. EC Implementation Act. explanatory memorandum
1.GB.6. British Race Relations Act 1976
1.CoE.7. ECtHR, 13 December 2005, Timishev v Russia. freedom of movement of Chechens
Membership of an Ethnic or Racial Group
1.NL.8. Equal Treatment Commission. Opinion 1998-57. asylum seekers are not members of a "racial group"
1.UN.9. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. General Recommendation No 08: Identification with a particular racial or ethnic group
1.GB.10. House of Lords, Mandla v Dowell Lee. Sikhs as an ethnic group
Travellers and Gypsies
1.IE.11. Equality Tribunal, Connors v Molly Heffernan's Public House. nomadic life no requirement for establishment of traveller identity
1.IE.12. Equality Tribunal, O'Brien v Killarney Ryan Hotel. irrelevance of subjective feeling of belonging to the "traveller community"
1.GB.13. Court of Appeal, Commission for Racial Equality v Dutton. gypsies as an ethnic group
1.NL.14. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 1999-65. unequal treatment of caravan dwellers constitutes racial discrimination
Membership of a (National) Minority-National Origin
1.CoE.15. Council of Europe, European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
1.PL.16. Polish National and Ethnic Minorities and Regional Languages Act of 6 January 2005
1.PL.17. Comments of the Polish Parliamentary Office to the Draft National Minorities Act
Language
Ethnicity and Religion

1.3.2.B. Suspectness

1.CoE.18. ECtHR, 18 January 2001, Chapman v United Kingdom. no strict test applied to discrimination against Gypsies

1.3.3. Nationality

1.3.3.A. Definition

Different Situations
Definition of Nationality

1.3.3.B. Suspectness

1.CoE.19. ECtHR, 16 September 1996, Gaygusuz v Austria. "very weighty reasons" test applied to nationality discrimination
1.CoE.20. ECtHR, 20 October 2005, Niedzwiecki v Germany. no "very weighty reasons" test applied to nationality discrimination
1.EC.21. ECJ, 20 October 1993, Joined Cases C-92/92 and C-326/92, Phil Collins v Imtrat Handelsgesellschaft mbH and Patricia Im- und Export Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH and Leif Emanuel Kraul v EMI Electrola GmbH. importance of the prohibition of nationality discrimination
1.EC.22. ECJ, 11 July 2002, Case C-224/98, MN D'Hoop v Office national de l'emploi. importance of prohibition of nationality discrimination

1.3.4. Gender, Sex and Related Grounds

1.3.4.A. Definition

Gender and Sex
Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Definitions
1.EE.23. Estonian Law on Gender Equality
1.DE.24. German Constitution
1.UN.25. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Gender Related Grounds - Pregnancy and Gender - Specific Illness
1.EC.26. ECJ, 9 November 1990, Case C-177/88, Dekker v Stichting VJV. discrimination based on pregnancy constitutes sex discrimination
1.EC.27. ECJ, 30 June 1998, Case C-394/96, Mary Brown v Rentokil. dismissal because of absence during pregnancy is sex discrimination
1.EC.28. ECJ, 8 November 1990, Case C-179/88, Handels- og Kontorfunktionaerernes Forbund i Danmark, acting on behalf of Birthe Vibeke Hertz v Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening. no sex discrimination in case of dismissal for pregnancy-related reasons
Homosexuality and Gender
1.EC.29. ECJ, 17 February 1998, Case C-249/96, Grant v South-West Trains. Sex discrimination or discrimination based on sexual orientation
Gender/Sex, Transsexuality and Intersexuality/Hermaphroditism
1.EC.30. ECJ, 30 April 1998, Case C-13/94, P v S and Cornwall County Council. discrimination based on transsexuality constitutes sex discrimination
1.DE.31. Regional Court of Munich, Civil Division, 30 June 2003. does hermaphroditism qualify as a separate gender?

1.3.4.B. Suspectness

1.EC.32. ECJ, 30 March 1993, Case C-328/91, Secretary of State for Social Security v Thomas and Others. strict scrutiny in gender discrimination cases
1.CoE.33. ECtHR, 25 May 1985, Abdulaziz, Cabales and Balkandali v the United Kingdom. very weighty reasons test applied to gender discrimination
1.EC.34. ECJ, 12 July 1984, Case 184/83, Hofmann v Barmer Ersatzkasse. less intensive review of social security issues
1.CoE.35. ECtHR, 27 March 1998, Petrovic v Austria. no very weighty reasons required to justify gender discrimination

1.3.5. Sexual Orientation

1.3.5.A. Definition

Symmetrical or Asymmetrical Approach
1.IE.36. Irish Equal Status Act 2000
1.GB.37. Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
Sexual Orientation, Sexual Preference and Sexual Behaviour
1.EC.38. Explanatory Memorandum to the Employment Equality Directive
1.NL.39. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 2003-150, "sexual orientation" also covers sexual behaviour
Other Forms of Sexual Orientation, Preference or Behaviour
1.NL.40. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 1996-108. discrimination against transvestites is not sexual orientation discrimination

1.3.5.B. Suspectness

1.CoE.41. ECtHR, 21 December 1999, Salgueiro da Silva Mouta v Portugal. disadvantage solely based on sexual orientation is not acceptable
1.CoE.42. ECtHR, 9 January 2003, L and v v Austria. very weighty reasons test applied to sexual orientation discrimination

1.3.6. Marital and Family Status

1.3.6.A. Definitions

Marital Status
1.EC.43. ECJ, 17 April 1986, Case 59/85, State of Netherlands v Ann Florence Reed. no residence permit for unmarried partner
1.EC.44. ECJ, 13 May 2001, Joined cases C-122/99 P and C-125/99, P, D and Sweden v Council. discrimination of same-sex partners with a registered partnership
Family Status and Marital Status
1.BG.45. The Bulgarian Protection against Discrimination Act
1.IE.46. Equality Tribunal, Travers & Maunsell v The Ball Alley House. definition of family status

1.3.6.B. Suspectness

1.CoE.47. ECtHR, 4 June 2002, Wessels-Bergervoet v The Netherlands. very weighty reasons test applied to discrimination based on sex and marital status

1.3.7. Birth, Parentage and Descent

1.CoE.48. ECtHR, 13 June 1979, Marckx v Belgium. illegitimate birth as a suspect ground for discrimination
1.CoE.49. ECtHR, 28 October 1987, Inze v Austria. very weighty reasons test applied to discrimination based on illegitimate birth
1.CoE.50. ECtHR, 8 July 2003, Sahin v Germany. discrimination against parents of illegitimate children
1.CoE.51. ECtHR, 13 July 2004, Pla and Puncernau v Andorra. discrimination against adopted children

1.3.8. Religion and Belief; Political or Personal Conviction

1.3.8.A. Definition

Introduction
1.GB.52. Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
1.BG.53. Bulgarian Protection against Discrimination Act
1.MT.54. Constitution of Malta
1.UN.55. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1.UN.56. Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion and Belief
1.CoE.57. European Convention of Human Rights
1.EC.58. Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
1.CoE.59. Human Rights Committee, General Comment No 22: The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Religion, Recognition and Sects
1.DK.60. NE Hansen, Report on measures to combat discrimination: Directive 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC. country report Denmark
1.IT.61. A Simoni, Report on measures to combat discrimination: Directive 2000/43/EC and 2000/78/EC. country report Italy
How to Prove The Existence of Religion?
1.CoE.62. ECtHR, 13 April 2006, Kosteski v The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. proof of adherence to a religion
The Freedom Not to have a Religion
1.CoE.63. ECtHR, 18 February 1999, Buscarini et al v San Marino. freedom of conscience covers freedom not to have a religion
1.NL.64. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 2003-114. "Religion" encompasses "not having a religion"
Manifestation of Religion and Religious Expressions
1.CoE.65. ECtHR, 25 May 1993, Kokkinakis v Greece. religious expression is protected by the freedom of religion
1.UN.66. Human Rights Committee, General Comment No 22: The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
1.NL.67. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 1998-18. subjective approach to religious practice
1.CoE.68. EComHR, 16 May 1977, Arrowsmith v UK. objective approach to religious practice
1.CoE.69. ECtHR, 10 November 2005, Leyla Sahin v Turkey. headscarf as religious expression
Belief
1.CoE.70. ECtHR, 25 February 1982, Campbell and Cosans v UK. definition of "philosophical convictions" and "belief"
1.NL.71. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 2005-28. definition of "belief" and "religion"
Relation Between Religion and Belief
1.DE.72. The German Federal Administrative Court, 27 March 1992. religion or belief?
Political Conviction or Opinion
1.CoE.73. EComHR, 16 May 1977, Arrowsmith v UK. objective approach to religious practice
1.NL.74. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 1998-45. "political conviction" does not cover criminally punishable behaviour

1.3.8.B. Suspectness

1.CoE.75. ECtHR, 23 June 1993, Hoffmann v Austria. religion based discrimination is highly suspect
1.CoE.76. ECtHR, 16 December 2003, Palau Martinez v France. margin of appreciation in religious discrimination cases

1.3.9. Disability and (Chronic) Illness

1.3.9.A. Definition

1.EC.77. Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
1.EC.78. Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine
1.FI.79. Finnish Non-Discrimination Act
1.NL.80. Dutch Act on Equal Treatment on the Grounds of Disability or Chronic Illness
Handicap or Disability?
1.UN.81. UN General Assembly, Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Symmetrical or Asymmetrical Approach?
Social Construct or Medical Impairment?
1.UK.82. Disability Discrimination Act 2005
1.UN.83. World Health Organisation, Towards a Common Language for Functioning, Disability and Health
1.EC.84. ECJ, 11 July 2006, Sonia Chacón Navas v Eurest Colectividades SA. definition of disability and illness
Permanent or Long-Term Physical or Mental Impairment
1.DE.85. German Federal Constitutional Court, 8 October 1997. disability as a long-term physical, mental or psychological function
1.NL.86. The Dutch Second Memorandum of Reply with respect to the Act on Equal Treatment on the Grounds of Disability or Chronic Illness of 2003
Limitation to Participation in Social or Professional Life
1.BE.87. Executive Regulation adopted on 30 January 2004 by the Flemish Government to implement certain provisions of the Decree of 8 May 2002
1.CY.88. Cypriot Law concerning Persons with Disabilities
1.FR.89. French Act 2005-102 on the Equality of Rights and Opportunities, the Participation and Citizenship of Disabled Persons
1.LT.90. Lithuanian Law on the Social Integration of the Disabled
1.PT.91. Portuguese Law 38/2004
Future Disability
1.DE.92. SGB IX, Social Law Code, Book IX
1.SE.93. Swedish Disability Discrimination Act 1999
Chronic Illness, Sickness and Health
1.HU.94. Hungarian Act CXXv of 2003 on equal treatment and on fostering equal opportunities
1.PT.95. Portuguese Labour Code
1.NL.96. Dutch Explanatory Memorandum to the Act on Equal Treatment on the Grounds of Disability or Chronic Illness of 2003
1.IE.97. Equality Tribunal, Fernandez v Cable & Wireless. illness as disability
1.IE.98. Equality Tribunal, A Civil Servant v The Office of Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners. asthma and irritable bowel syndrome as disability

1.3.9.B. Suspectness

1.3.10. Age

1.3.10.A.Definition

1.IE.99. Irish Equal Status Act 2000, as amended by Equality Act 2004

1.3.10.B. Suspectness

1.IE.100. Supreme Court, 15 May 1997, Case 118/1997, In the Matter of Article 26 and in the Matter of the Employment Equality Bill 1996. limited scope of age discrimination prohibitions
1.EC.101. ECJ, 22 November 2005, Werner Mangold v Rüdiger Helm. strict test of proportionality in age-discrimination cases

1.3.11. Part-Time and Fixed-Term Work

1.3.11.A. Definition

1.EC.102. Council Directive 97/81/EC of 15 December 1997 concerning the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and ETUC - Annex (Framework Agreement on Part-Time Work)
1.EC.103. Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP - Annex (Framework Agreement on Fixed-Term Work)
Part-Time and Full-Time Work
1.UN.104. ILO Convention No 175: Part-Time Work Convention
1.IE.105. Irish Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act 2001
1.GB.106. The Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000
1.FR.107. French Labour Code
1.NL.108. Dutch Act on Equal Treatment based on Working Hours
Fixed-Term Contracts
1.NL.109. Dutch Act on Equal Treatment based on Temporary and Permanent Contracts
1.PL.110. Polish Labour Code
1.NL.111. Dutch Explanatory Memorandum to the Act on Equal Treatment based on Temporary and Permanent Contracts

1.3.11.B. Suspectness

1.4. Discrimination on Grounds of Assumed Characteristics and Discrimination by Association

1.4.1. Discrimination on Grounds of Assumed Characteristics

1.CoE.112. ECtHR, 13 December 2005, Timishev v Russia. freedom of movement of Chechens
1.AT.113. Explanatory Notes to the Austrian Equal Treatment Act
1.HU.114. Hungarian Act CXXv of 2003 on equal treatment and on fostering equal opportunities
1.IE.115. Irish Equal Status Act 2000, as amended by the Equality Act 2004
1.GB.116. House of Lords, 24 March 1983, Mandla v Dowell Lee. Sikhs as an ethnic group
1.NL.117. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 2004-67. discrimination based on assumed disability
1.NL.118. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 2002-84. ascribed political conviction

1.4.2. Discrimination by Association

1.IE.119. Equality Tribunal, 27 January 2004, Six Complainants v A Public House, Dublin. discrimination by association

1.5. Multiple Discrimination

1.5.1. Introduction

1.5.2. Problems of Multiple Discrimination

Differences in Personal and Material Scope
Difference in Exemptions
Establishing (Indirect) Discrimination: Who is The Comparator?

1.5.3. Practical Solutions to Cases of Multiple Discrimination

1.UN.120. Fourth World Congress on Women, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
1.UN.121. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, General Recommendation No 25: Gender related dimensions of racial discrimination
1.CoE.122. ECtHR, 28 November 1984, Rasmussen v Denmark. intersectional discrimination under the ECHR
1.IE.123. Equality Tribunal, 18 December 2001, Maughan v The Glimmer Man. cumulative discrimination
1.NL.124. Equal Treatment Commission, Opinion 1998-48. intersectional discrimination against a Jewish employee

1.6. Comparative Analysis

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