Yhdenvertaisuuslainsäädäntö

Yhdenvertaisuus (Finnish for equality) is the principle that individuals should have equal rights, status, and opportunities, and be protected from discrimination on grounds such as gender, race, disability, or background. It encompasses both formal equality—treating people the same under the law—and substantive equality—addressing structural barriers that produce unequal outcomes.

Legally, many countries enshrine equality in constitutions, statutes, or anti-discrimination laws. International law also promotes equality: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and regional human rights instruments. Practical application includes ensuring equal access to education, employment, housing, and political participation, as well as protections against harassment and disadvantage.

Debates around equality often focus on whether to prioritize equal opportunities or equal outcomes, and how to balance merit with affirmative measures. The related concept of equity emphasizes targeted supports to achieve comparable results, which critics sometimes view as preferential treatment while supporters see it as corrective justice.

Challenges include measurement difficulties, persistent biases, and structural inequalities that affect marginalized groups. In policy design, advocates emphasize intersectionality—recognizing overlapping identities—and the importance of data collection and monitoring to track progress toward more equal societies.