Handbook on European non-discrimination law

Description

European non-discrimination law, as constituted by the EU non-discrimination directives, and Article 14 of and Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, prohibits discrimination across a range of contexts and a range of grounds. This Handbook examines European non-discrimination law stemming from these two sources as complementary systems, drawing on them interchangeably to the extent that they overlap, while highlighting differences where these exist. With the impressive body of case-law developed by the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union in the field of non-discrimination, it seemed useful to present, in an accessible way, a handbook with a CD-Rom intended for legal practitioners in the EU and Council of Europe Member States and beyond, such as judges, prosecutors and lawyers, as well as law-enforcement officers. The manuscript was finalised in July 2010. FOREWORD................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1. INTRODUCING EUROPEAN NON-DISCRIMINATION LAW: CONTEXT, EVOLUTION AND KEY PRINCIPLES.......................................................................................11 1.1. Context and background to European non-discrimination law....................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.1. The Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights................................................................................................ 12 1.1.2. The European Union and the non-discrimination directives.............................. 13 1.2. Current and future developments in European protection mechanisms............................................................................................. 15 1.2.1. EU Charter of Fundamental Rights...................................................................................... 15 1.2.2. UN human rights treaties......................................................................................................... 16 1.2.3. European Union accession to the European Convention on Human Rights..................................................................17 Key points ...................................................................................................................................................................17 Further reading........................................................................................................................................................ 18 2. DISCRIMINATION CATEGORIES AND DEFENCES................................................................................21 2.1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................................21 2.2. Direct discrimination.............................................................................................................................22 2.2.1. Unfavourable treatment...........................................................................................................22 2.2.2. A comparator...................................................................................................................................23 2.2.3. The protected ground.................................................................................................................26 2.3. Indirect discrimination.........................................................................................................................29 2.3.1. A neutral rule, criterion or practice....................................................................................29 2.3.2. Significantly more negative in its effects on a protected group..................................................................................................................30 2.3.3. A comparator................................................................................................................................... 31 2.4. Harassment and instruction to discriminate.................................................................... 31 2.4.1. Harassment and instruction to discriminate under the EU non-discrimination directives................................................................. 31 2.4.2. Harassment and instruction to discriminate under the ECHR............................34 2.5. Special or specific measures...........................................................................................................35 Key points.....................................................................................................................................................................42