Government plays a key role in ensuring we live in a fair society.
Society can fix these problems by using ‘positive discrimination’ to right the wrongs these groups suffer.
The government can offer employment programmes, housing benefits, and education opportunities to these groups to create social equality.
There are a range of laws that help to promote equality and social justice in Northern Ireland.
There is also a government organisation, the Northern Ireland Equality Commission, which monitors how well these laws are implemented.
The Good Friday Agreement (also known as the Belfast Agreement) was signed in April 1998, and brought an end to three decades of violence known as ‘The Troubles’.
It aimed to create a new government for Northern Ireland that shared power between unionists and nationalists. The agreement provided the foundation for building an equal society.
The Northern Ireland Act 1998 gave the Good Friday Agreement the force of law. It created the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive.
Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998 deals with equality in Northern Ireland. It ensures that all people, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, or ability are treated fairly and equally.
If you are not receiving the same treatment and rights as others, you can go to court and have your case heard.
It reads:
Section 75 (S75)
A public authority shall in carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity -
a) between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
b) between men and women generally;
c) between persons with a disability and persons without; and
d) between persons with dependants and persons without
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act requires the government to proactively protect your rights: