Monaghan on Equality Law

• Considers the full scope of the protection against discrimination in UK and European law, and analyses relevant ECtHR case law
• Provides an analytical critique of the current legal framework, its underlying concepts and the history of protection against discrimination and considers the position in other jurisdictions where illuminating for UK lawyers
• Up to date to include the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the Equality Act 2006, the book also looks ahead to the setting up of a single Equality and Human Rights Commission and the historical context of UK equality law
• Examines the meaning of "equality and discrimination", the grounds protected and the application of equality law to specific practice areas including employment, goods and services, housing, education, transport and public law
• Written by a leading barrister in equality and human rights work
• Considers the full scope of the protection against discrimination in UK and European law, and analyses relevant ECtHR caselaw.
• Written by a leading barrister in employment and human rights work

Recent legislative developments such as the enactment of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the publication of the Equality Act 2006 (which will create a single Commission for Equality and Human Rights), highlight that equality law is a vast and growing area. European law now covers gender, sexuality, religion, age, disability and race. New domestic law has increased the scope of the Race Relations Act, the Sex Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act to cover the functions of public authorities and to introduce positive duties upon them. In addition, new legislation regulates discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief and sexual orientation and age. More and more lawyers across a wide range of practice areas need to get to grips with equality law.

This new book offers a comprehensive survey of UK equality law. It provides an examination and critique of the current legal framework, including its underlying concepts and the history of protection against discrimination, and looks at equality law's application to a wide range of specific areas such as employment, goods and services, housing, education, and public law. It also examines the scope of protection in domestic, European and ECHR law, and includes chapters on defences and exemptions, procedures and remedies.

Written by a leading barrister in equality and human rights work, this book is an invaluable reference for the practitioner seeking a deeper understanding of the issues and concepts behind our equality laws, as well as for students and academics interested in this rapidly evolving area.

Readership: Primary: Public lawyers and Human Rights lawyers (solicitors and barristers). Secondary: Practitioners, students and academics, working in other areas involving equality law eg housing, education, immigration and civil actions against the police