Antidiskrimineringsrätt

Antidiskrimineringsrätt refers to the body of laws and legal principles designed to prohibit and address discrimination. Its primary purpose is to ensure that individuals are treated equally and fairly, regardless of personal characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other protected grounds. These laws aim to prevent unfair treatment in various spheres of life, including employment, housing, education, and access to goods and services.

The core of antidiskrimineringsrätt lies in the principle of equal treatment. This can manifest in several ways. Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably than another in a comparable situation because of a protected characteristic. Indirect discrimination arises when a provision, criterion, or practice appears neutral but puts individuals with a particular protected characteristic at a disadvantage compared to others, unless it can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim. Harassment, defined as unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment, is also prohibited. Victimisation, which is treating someone unfavorably because they have complained about discrimination or supported someone else who has, is also an unlawful act under antidiskrimineringsrätt.

Enforcement of antidiskrimineringsrätt typically involves complaint mechanisms, legal proceedings, and the work of specialized equality bodies or ombudsmen. Remedies for discrimination can include compensation, orders to cease discriminatory practices, or affirmative action measures aimed at promoting equality. The development and application of antidiskrimineringsrätt is an ongoing process, evolving to address new forms of discrimination and to strengthen protections for vulnerable groups.