Rights & Remedies
Protected Ground
A characteristic, such as race or sex, against which discrimination is prohibited by law.
Definition
Under the Equality Act 2021, a 'protected ground' refers to any characteristic, including race, sex, or other attributes, upon which discrimination is prohibited. The Act mandates that all statutory provisions concerning these grounds, as defined more extensively in the Human Rights Act 1981 (e.g., race, place of origin, colour, ethnic or national origins, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, family status, religion or beliefs, political opinions, criminal record), shall be interpreted to promote equality.