Protecting children from age discrimination

Young Equals is our campaign to get protection from age discrimination for children and young people. It is supported by many charities and individual children and young people. We held a day of action on August 28th to gather evidence of age discrimination – send us your evidence!

No matter how old you are, sign up to show you support Young Equals

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Public and commercial services are not allowed to discriminate on the grounds of race, sex, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

We want this protection to be extended so that public and commercial services cannot discriminate on the grounds of age.

In 2005, the Government set up a review of discrimination law. CRAE's national co-ordinator was a member of the reference group.

Throughout the past three years we have lobbied Government Ministers and civil servants to try and persuade them to outlaw age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Other countries like Australia, Finland and Sweden already prohibit age discrimination.

We have also been pushing for a new duty on public authorities (schools, health services, police, social services and libraries) to promote the human dignity and equal worth of all people, as well as encourage participation in decision-making and positive images of children and young people.

An Equality Bill is expected to be published early in 2009. The Government is not convinced that children and young people should receive any new protection.

We are now collecting evidence of age discrimination against children and young people (under 18s) in the services and facilities they use. This includes education, health, social care, police and emergency services, public transport, parks and open spaces, restaurants, hotels and shops – anywhere where children and young people buy goods or facilities or try to use public services.

On Thursday August 28th, we held a day of action to gather evidence of age discrimination from all over Britain. It's not too late to send us your evidence.

Read our guidelines (PDF)

Download our day of action postcard (PDF)