Race Relations Order - Introduction
The Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 (a) (RRO) follows closely the provisions of the 1976 Race Relations Act in GB. It outlaws discrimination on grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin. The Irish Traveller community is specifically identified in the Order as a racial group against which racial discrimination is unlawful.
The RRO makes racial discrimination unlawful in the following areas:
- employment;
- goods, facilities and services;
- education; and
- housing management and disposal of premises.
There are three types of racial discrimination:-
- direct discrimination arises where one person treats another less favourably, on racial grounds, than he or she treats (or would treat) someone else in the same or similar circumstances;
- indirect discrimination occurs where a provision, criterion or practice although applied equally to others would put persons of a particular racial group at a particular disadvantage compared with other persons, unless that provision, criterion or practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim;
- victimisation is when someone is treated less favourably because they have, for instance, complained of racial discrimination or have assisted someone else to do so.
The Race Order adds a further ground by providing that segregation on racial grounds also constitutes discrimination.
The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (a) was amended by the Race Relations Order (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 to implement requirements of the EU Race Directive 2003/43/EC. These amendments give people greater protection from unlawful racial discrimination and harassment on the grounds of race, ethnic or national origins.
The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 ("the 1997 Order") was amended by the Race Relations Order (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 to give full effect in Northern Ireland to Article 2(2)(b) (indirect discrimination) of Council Directive 2000/43 EC of 29th June 2000 ("the Directive") concerning the principle of the equal treatment between persons, irrespective of racial or ethnic origins, in the areas of employment (and related matters), social protection, social advantage, education and access to and supply of, goods and services which are available to the public, including housing.
