Equality
Equality is when each person is seen as equal in the eyes of the law. A goernment that protects human rights makes one set of laws for everyone, not different laws for diffrent people.
In the past, the law has discriminated against some groups based on their race, religion, gender, or sexuality.
Social justice
Social justice is when each prson can exercise their rights within a society.
A government that promotes social justice ensures that everyone has physical security, education, healthcare, and employment.
Discrimination
‘Discrimination’ is choosing to favour one thing over another.
We discriminate all the time. We choose clothes of a certain colour over others, certain foods over others. We sometimes call people ‘discriminating’ to show that they have good taste.
The problem is when we discriminate against people.
Too often, people are discriminated against because of who they are. They may suffer from unemployent, lower wages, abuse, or violence because of their gender, race, religion, or sexuality.
Race
People with different skin colours, languages, and different ethnic backgrunds from the majority often suffer from discrimination.
People with disabilities
People with mental and physical disabilities often face discrimination from the able-bodied majority.
There are many simple adjustments that can be made to accommodate disabled people. They are discriminated against when these adjustments are not made.
Alternatives to marriage
Civil partnerships
A civil partnership is an alternative to marriage for same-sex couples. Civil partnerships were introduced in the UK to allow same-sex couples to obtain the same rights and responsibilities as with civil marriage (as they were legally unable to marry).
In UK law, only same-sex couples are eligible for a civil partnership. A heterosexual couple who live together and want to formalise their relationship without getting married cannot do so through a civil partnership.
Rights to speech
Censorship exists where the right of free speech is blocked by governments or authorities. The European Convention of Human Rights makes it clear that freedom of speech should be respected. In a small number of cases, it is possible to abuse this right.
