The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 make it unlawful to discriminate against an individual on grounds of sexual orientation in employment and training. Find out more about the Regulations.

• View the full document

If you feel that you have been discriminated against in your employment or training please contact The Equality Commission who will be glad to advise you.

Discrimination includes, harassment and bullying

Section 75
Section 75 and Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, came into force on 1 January 2000. Responsibility for these provisions lies with the Secretary of State. The provisions place a statutory obligation on public authorities (Northern Ireland departments, most non-departmental public bodies, District Councils and other bodies including UK departments designated by the Secretary of State) to carry out their functions relating to Northern Ireland with due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

• between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation,
• between men and women generally;
• between persons with a disability and persons without, and
• between persons with dependants and persons without.

In addition, without prejudice to this obligation, public authorities must have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, or racial group. More Details

Hate Crimes and homophobic incidents.

In 2004 new legislation was enacted in Northern Ireland to protect people from crimes motivated by hate and include homophobia and homophobic incidents.

• PSNI leaflet on Hate Crime
• Report a homophobic incident

If you are the victim of hate crime or homophobic incident but do not wish to report the incident to the PSNI please contact us