Help us make the FRA website better for you!

Take part in a one-to-one session and help us improve the FRA website. It will take about 30 minutes of your time.

YES, I AM INTERESTED NO, I AM NOT INTERESTED

eu-charter

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Article 21 - Non-discrimination

Article 21 - Non-discrimination

1. Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.
2. Within the scope of application of the Treaties and without prejudice to any of their specific provisions, any discrimination on grounds of nationality shall be prohibited.

    • Text:

      Paragraph 1 draws on Article 13 of the EC Treaty, now replaced by Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Article 14 of the ECHR and Article 11 of the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine as regards genetic heritage. In so far as this corresponds to Article 14 of the ECHR, it applies in compliance with it.

      There is no contradiction or incompatibility between paragraph 1 and Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union which has a different scope and purpose: Article 19 confers power on the Union to adopt legislative acts, including harmonisation of the Member States' laws and regulations, to combat certain forms of discrimination, listed exhaustively in that Article. Such legislation may cover action of Member State authorities (as well as relations between private individuals) in any area within the limits of the Union's powers. In contrast, the provision in Article 21(1) does not create any power to enact anti-discrimination laws in these areas of Member State or private action, nor does it lay down a sweeping ban of discrimination in such wide-ranging areas. Instead, it only addresses discriminations by the institutions and bodies of the Union themselves, when exercising powers conferred under the Treaties, and by Member States only when they are implementing Union law. Paragraph 1 therefore does not alter the extent of powers granted under Article 19 nor the interpretation given to that Article.

      Paragraph 2 corresponds to the first paragraph of Article 18 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and must be applied in compliance with that Article.

      Source:
      Official Journal of the European Union C 303/17 - 14.12.2007
      Preamble - Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights:
      These explanations were originally prepared under the authority of the Praesidium of the Convention which drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Although they do not as such have the status of law, they are a valuable tool of interpretation intended to clarify the provisions of the Charter.
    • CO v Comune di Gesturi
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Eighth Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Employment and social policy
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:272
    • Raivo Teeäär v European Central Bank
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      General Court (First Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Employment and social policy
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:T:2020:119
    • Baltic Cable AB v Energimarknadsinspektionen.
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Third Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Energy
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:189
    • International Forum for Sustainable Underwater Activities (IFSUA) v Council of the European Union
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      General Court (First Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Maritime Affairs And Fisheries
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:T:2020:89
    • Credito Fondiario SpA v Single Resolution Board
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Eight Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Economic and monetary affairs
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:178
    • TK and Others v Land Sachsen-Anhalt
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Seventh Chmaber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Employment and social policy
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:125
    • České dráhy a.s. v European Commission
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Eight Chamber)
      Type:
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:53
    • DŚ v Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych Oddział w Jaśle
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Third Chamber)
      Type:
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:42
    • Almudena Baldonedo Martín v Ayuntamiento de Madrid
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Second Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Employment and social policy
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:26
    • Criminal proceedings against JI.
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Advocate General
      Type:
      Opinion
      Policy area:
      Justice, freedom and security
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2020:29

    69 results found

    • Constitution of the Republic of Poland
      Country:
      Poland

      Article 32 1. All persons shall be equal before the law. All persons shall have the right to equal treatment by public authorities. 2. No one shall be discriminated against in political, social or economic life for any reason whatsoever.

    • Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
      Country:
      Poland

      Art. 32. 1. Wszyscy są wobec prawa równi. Wszyscy mają prawo do równego traktowania przez władze publiczne.2. Nikt nie może być dyskryminowany w życiu politycznym, społecznym lub gospodarczym z jakiejkolwiek przyczyny.

    • Constitution of Malta
      Country:
      Malta

      Article 45. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (4), (5) and (7) of this article, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect. (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (6), (7) and (8) of this article, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority. (3) In this article, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description. (4) Sub-article (1) of this article shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision - (a) for the appropriation of public revenues or other public funds; or (b) with respect to persons who are not citizens of Malta; or (c) with respect to adoption, marriage, dissolution of marriage, burial, devolution of property on death or any matters of personal law not hereinbefore specified; or (d) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in sub-article (3) of this article may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description and to any other provision of this Constitution, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society; or (e) for authorising the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency; Provided that paragraph (c) of this sub-article shall not apply to any law which makes any provision that is discriminatory, either of itself or in its effect by affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective description by sex. (5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of sub-article (1) of this article to the extent that it makes provision: (a) with respect to qualifications for service or conditions of service in any disciplined force; or (b) with respect to qualifications (not being qualifications specifically relating to sex) for service as a public officer or for service of a local government authority or a body corporate established for public purposes by any law. (6) Sub-article (2) of this article shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorised to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in sub-article (4) or (5) of this article. (7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision (not being provisions specifically relating to sex) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in sub-article (3) of this article may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by articles 38, 40, 41, 42 and 44 of this Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorised by article 38(2), 40(2), 41(2), 42(2) or 44(3). (8) Nothing in sub-article (2) of this article shall affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law. (9) A requirement, however made, that the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion shall be taught by a person professing that religion shall not be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article. (10) Until the expiration of a period of two years commencing on the lst July, 1991, nothing contained in any law made before the 1st July, 1991, shall be held to be inconsistent with the provisions of this article, in so far as that law provides for different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective description by sex. (11) Nothing in the provisions of this article shall apply to any law or anything done under the authority of a law, or to any procedure or arrangement, in so far as such law, thing done, procedure or arrangement provides for the taking of special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women, and in so far only as such measures, taking into account the social fabric of Malta, are shown to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.

    • Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija
      Country:
      Lithuania

      29 straipsnis Įstatymui, teismui ir kitoms valstybės institucijoms ar pareigūnams visi asmenys lygūs. Žmogaus teisių negalima varžyti ir teikti jam privilegijų dėl jo lyties, rasės, tautybės, kalbos, kilmės, socialinės padėties, tikėjimo, įsitikinimų ar pažiūrų pagrindu.

    • Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania
      Country:
      Lithuania

      Article 29. All persons shall be equal before the law, the court, and other State institutions and officials. The rights of the human being may not be restricted, nor may he be granted any privileges on the ground of gender, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, belief, convictions, or views.

    • Constitution of the Republic of Latvia
      Country:
      Latvia

      91. All human beings in Latvia shall be equal before the law and the courts. Human rights shall be realised without discrimination of any kind.

    • Latvijas Republikas Satversme
      Country:
      Latvia

      91. Visi cilvēki Latvijā ir vienlīdzīgi likuma un tiesas priekšā. Cilvēka tiesības tiek īstenotas bez jebkādas diskriminācijas.

    • Constitution of the Italian Republic
      Country:
      Italy

      Art. 3. All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before the law, without distinction of sex, race, language, religion, political opinion, personal and social conditions. It is the duty of the Republic to remove those obstacles of an economic or social nature which constrain the freedom and equality of citizens, thereby
      impeding the full development of the human person and the effective participation of all workers in the political, economic and social organisation
      of the country. Art. 10. (...) The legal status of foreigners is regulated by law in conformity with
      international provisions and treaties. (...)

    • Costituzione della Repubblica Italiana
      Country:
      Italy

      Art. 3. Tutti i cittadini hanno pari dignità sociale e sono eguali davanti alla legge, senza distinzione di sesso, di razza, di lingua, di religione, di opinioni politiche, di condizioni personali e sociali. È compito della Repubblica rimuovere gli ostacoli di ordine economico e sociale, che, limitando di fatto la libertà e la uguaglianza dei cittadini, impediscono il pieno sviluppo della persona umana e l'effettiva partecipazione di tutti i lavoratori all'organizzazione politica, economica e sociale del Paese. Art. 10. (...) La condizione giuridica dello straniero è regolata dalla legge in conformità delle norme e dei trattati internazionali (...)

    • Constitution of Ireland
      Country:
      Ireland

      Article 40.1. All citizens shall, as human persons, be held equal before the law. This shall not be held to mean that the State shall not in its enactments have due regard to differences of capacity, physical and moral, and of social function. Article 40.6.2. Laws regulating the manner in which the right of forming associations and nions and the right of free assembly may be exercised shall contain no political, religious or class discrimination.

    • Equality Act 2004
      Country:
      Ireland
    • Magyarország Alaptörvénye
      Country:
      Hungary

      XV. cikk (SZABADSÁG ÉS FELELŐSSÉG) [...] (2) Magyarország az alapvető jogokat mindenkinek bármely megkülönböztetés, nevezetesen faj, szín, nem, fogyatékosság, nyelv, vallás, politikai vagy más vélemény , nemzeti vagy társadalmi származás, vagyoni, születési vagy egyéb helyzet szerinti kűlönbségtétel nélkül biztosítja. [...] (4)Magyarország az esélyegyenlőség és a társadalmi felzárkózás megvalósulását külön intézkedésekkel segíti.

    • The Fundamental Law of Hungary
      Country:
      Hungary

      Article XV (Freedom and Responsibility) [...] (2) Hungary shall guarantee fundamental rights to everyone without discrimination and in particular without discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, disability, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or any other status. [...]
      (4) By means of separate measures, Hungary shall help to achieve equality of
      opportunity and social inclusion.

    • Constitution of the Hellenic Republic
      Country:
      Greece

      Article 4 (5) Greek citizens contribute without distinction to public charges in proportion to their means. [...] Article 5 (2) All persons living within the Greek territory shall enjoy full protection of their life, honour and liberty irrespective of nationality, race or language and of religious or political beliefs. Exceptions shall be permitted only in cases provided by international law. [...]

    • Το Σύνταγμα της Ελλάδας
      Country:
      Greece

      Άρθρο 4 (5) Oι Έλληνες πoλίτες συνεισφέρoυν χωρίς διακρίσεις στα δημόσια βάρη, ανάλoγα με τις δυνάμεις τoυς. […] Άρθρο 5 (2) Όλoι όσoι βρίσκoνται στην Eλληνική Eπικράτεια απoλαμβάνoυν την απόλυτη πρoστασία της ζωής, της τιμής και της ελευθερίας τoυς, χωρίς διάκριση εθνικότητας, φυλής, γλώσσας και θρησκευτικών ή πoλιτικών πεπoιθήσεων. Eξαιρέσεις επιτρέπoνται στις περιπτώσεις πoυ πρoβλέπει τo διεθνές δίκαιo. [...]

    • Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz
      Country:
      Germany

       

       

       

    • Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany
      Country:
      Germany

      Article 3 (... ) (3) No person shall be favoured or disfavoured because of sex, parentage, race, language, homeland and origin, faith, or religious or political opinions. No person shall be disfavoured because of disability. Article 33 (1) Every German shall have in every Land the same political rights and duties. (2) Every German shall be equally eligible for any public office according to his aptitude, qualifications and professional achievements. (3) Neither the enjoyment of civil and political rights, nor eligibility for public office, nor rights acquired in the public service shall be dependent upon religious affiliation. No one may be disadvantaged by reason of adherence or non-adherence to a particular religious denomination or philosophical creed.

    • General Equal Treatment Act
      Country:
      Germany

       

       

       

    • Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
      Country:
      Germany

      Artikel 3 (...) (3) Niemand darf wegen seines Geschlechtes, seiner Abstammung, seiner Rasse, seiner Sprache, seiner Heimat und Herkunft, seines Glaubens, seiner religiösen oder politischen Anschauungen benachteiligt oder bevorzugt werden. Niemand darf wegen seiner Behinderung benachteiligt werden. Artikel 33 (1) Jeder Deutsche hat in jedem Lande die gleichen staatsbürgerlichen Rechte und Pflichten. (2) Jeder Deutsche hat nach seiner Eignung, Befähigung und fachlichen Leistung gleichen Zugang zu jedem öffentlichen Amte. (3) Der Genuß bürgerlicher und staatsbürgerlicher Rechte, die Zulassung zu öffentlichen Ämtern sowie die im öffentlichen Dienste erworbenen Rechte sind unabhängig von dem religiösen Bekenntnis. Niemandem darf aus seiner Zugehörigkeit oder Nichtzugehörigkeit zu einem Bekenntnisse oder einer Weltanschauung ein Nachteil erwachsen.

    • Constitution
      Country:
      France

      Article 1 La France est une République indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale. Elle assure l'égalité devant la loi de tous les citoyens sans distinction d'origine, de race ou de religion. Elle respecte toutes les croyances. Son organisation est décentralisée. La loi favorise l'égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux et fonctions électives, ainsi qu'aux responsabilités professionnelles et sociales.

    0 results found

    0 results found

    • 21
      January
      2025
      Climate change affects the daily lives of everyone in the EU and has significant environmental, economic, social and health impacts. To tackle this, the European Green Deal was adopted in 2019. This report examines the Green Deal from a fundamental rights perspective, with the aim of protecting the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all. It highlights the lack of fundamental rights in EU climate policy and the need to incorporate these rights into future legislation. It also considers how applying a human-rights-based approach to climate policy could support a fair and inclusive transition.
    • 20
      August
      2024
      Ahead of the EU elections, this report explores the political participation of people with disabilities. Although some Member States removed restrictions on the right to vote and to stand for elections, barriers still exist. This report is an update of new developments following FRA’s last report published in 2014. It sets out ways forward to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities, in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
    • 25
      October
      2023
      FRA's first Being Black in the EU report exposed widespread and entrenched racism against people of African descent in Europe. Now updated with new data, this report revisits the situation revealing persistent racial discrimination, harassment and violence. Overall, experiences of racial discrimination increased in the EU countries since 2016, reaching as high as 77%. The lack of progress is alarming despite binding anti-discrimination law in the EU since 2000 and significant EU policy developments since then.
    • 18
      October
      2023
      Civil society organisations struggle to maintain an environment safe from threats and attacks. FRA’s sixth annual update on civic space explores the challenges for organisations across the EU. While there has been significant development since FRA began monitoring the situation in 2018, civil society organisations remain under immense pressure. Abusive lawsuits and attacks against those involved in migrant search and rescue at sea are just some of the challenges identified. This report presents ways forward to protect civil society and human rights.
    • 13
      September
      2023
      Europe’s ageing population is ever-increasing, and our societies are becoming more digitalised. Many public services are now available online, with many more services in the process of being digitalised. But the digitalisation of public services poses a risk of exclusion for older persons. In this new report, FRA explores the impact of digitalisation on the fundamental rights of older persons. The report maps the current legislation, policies and practices fostering digital inclusion. It provides an overview of the laws at the national level that provide for equal access to public services, both online and offline. The findings show how Member States safeguard older person’s rights to access services undergoing digitalisation. It outlines how Member States can support digital skills and ensure older people can fully participate in public life.

    • Opinion / Position Paper
      6
      December
      2021
      FRA Opinion 1/21 illustrates the extent and nature of lived experiences of inequality and discrimination across the EU. It does so with reference to the grounds of discrimination and areas of life covered by the racial and employment equality directives, as well as by the proposed Equal Treatment Directive. It was issued on 30 April 2021. This summary presents the main recommendations (‘Key findings and opinions’) outlined in FRA Opinion 1/21.
    • 18
      November
      2021
      This report examines the EU’s main criminal law instrument in the
      field of counter-terrorism, Directive (EU) 2017/541. Specifically, it
      considers how the directive engages issues of fundamental rights,
      affecting individuals, groups and society as a whole.
    • 9
      November
      2021
      Antisemitic incidents and hate crimes violate fundamental rights,
      especially the right to human dignity, the right to equality of
      treatment, and the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This
      report provides an overview of available data on antisemitism as
      recorded by official and unofficial sources in the EU Member States as
      well as Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. The data provided by
      the countries are supplemented with information from international
      organisations.
    • Report / Paper / Summary
      22
      September
      2021
      Civil society organisations play a vital role in promoting fundamental rights, but they face diverse challenges across the European Union. This report presents FRA’s findings on a range of such challenges. The findings are based on research, and on two online consultations with civil society organisations, carried out in 2020.
    • 7
      July
      2021
      This report examines why victims do not report bias-motivated incidents and the barriers that they face when reporting incidents through national crime reporting systems. By mapping existing practices that have a bearing on the victim’s experiences when reporting bias-motivated violence and harassment, it aims to provide evidence to support national efforts to encourage and facilitate reporting – and ultimately assist Member States in delivering on their duties with regard to combating hate crime.