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Discrimination Law Review

Discrimination Law Review

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has duties to keep under review the working of the current four anti-discrimination Ordinances: the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO); the Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO); the Family Status Discrimination Ordinance (FSDO); and the Race Discrimination Ordinance (RDO). Where the EOC believes it is appropriate, it can make submissions to Government recommending amendments to the Ordinances in order to better promote equality and eliminate discrimination. 

Pursuant to those duties, between 2013 and 2016 the EOC conducted its most comprehensive review of the four anti-discrimination Ordinances, including a public consultation process to obtain the views of the general public and stakeholder organisations on improving the protections from discrimination. In March 2016, following the review the EOC made detailed submissions to the Government on reforming the anti-discrimination laws with 73 recommendations, 27 of which the EOC believed the Government should implement as a higher priority because they raise more urgent and serious concerns. 

The submissions to Government, Executive Summary (including in ethnic minority languages), Infographic, and Report on the Public Consultation are all available here.

The Government has implemented some of the EOC’s recommendations with amendments, which are described in the section on the Amendments to the Anti-discrimination Ordinances 2020-21.

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