Contents
3.
Selected Regional Legal Provisions Guaranteeing the Right to
Equality before the Law and the Right to Non-discrimination ................643
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 1981 ..............................643
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990 ................644
American Convention on Human Rights, 1969..........................................644
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human
Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1988..........645
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and
Eradication of Violence against Women, 1994 ...........................................645
Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, 1999..............................646
European Convention on Human Rights, 1950..........................................646
European Social Charter, 1961, and European Social Charter
(revised), 1996...................................................................................................647
Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities, 1994................................................................................................648
4.
The Prohibition of Discrimination and Public Emergencies....................649
5.
The General Meaning of Equality and Non-Discrimination ....................651
6.
Selected International Case Law and Legal Comments on the
Right to Equality and the Prohibition of Discrimination ..........................656
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
Race, colour or ethnic origin ..........................................................................656
6.1.1 Racial slurs..............................................................................................656
6.1.2 The right to freedom of movement and residence .........................................657
6.1.3 Racial and ethnic discrimination in law enforcement ..................................658
6.1.4 Racial discrimination in ensuring economic, social and cultural rights.........658
Gender ...............................................................................................................659
6.2.1 The right to represent matrimonial property...............................................659
6.2.2 Right to respect for family life....................................................................659
6.2.3 Preferential pension rights.........................................................................661
6.2.4 Social security benefits ..............................................................................662
6.2.5 Contributions to general child-care benefit schemes .....................................662
6.2.6 Parental leave allowance ...........................................................................663
6.2.7 Acquisition of citizenship .........................................................................664
Language............................................................................................................665
Religion or belief ..............................................................................................666
6.4.1 Conscientious objection to military service ..................................................666
6.4.2 Duty to wear safety gear at work ..............................................................668
6.4.3 Public funding of religious schools..............................................................669
6.4.4 Lack of public-law status for purposes of bringing court proceedings ...........669
Property .............................................................................................................670
Birth or other status.........................................................................................671
6.6.1 Social security benefits for married/unmarried couples ...............................671
6.6.2 Inheritance rights......................................................................................672
6.6.3. Conditions of birth or descent for presidential candidates............................673
Human Rights in the Administration of Justice: A Manual on Human Rights for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers
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