Religion and belief

Everyone has the right to hold their own religious beliefs or other similar philosophical beliefs under human rights and anti-discrimination legislation. People also have the right to have no religion or belief.

Under British anti-discrimination and human rights legislation, people are entitled to practise their religion or belief, express their views and get on with their day-to-day life. They are entitled to do these things without experiencing threats or discrimination.

Find out more about discrimination on grounds of religion or belief on the following pages on the Equality and Human Rights website:

Religion and Belief – on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website

Religion and belief equality schemes

Local authorities recognise that people may experience disadvantages due to their religion and or beliefs. Misconceptions and prejudice about specific religions or beliefs and the people who hold them can lead to social and economic disadvantage, exclusion and marginalisation.

Many local authorities will develop their work in this area through the action plans in their religion and belief equality schemes. The scheme should contain a set of principles to help maintain a strong commitment to tackling inequality and discrimination based on religion or belief. These principles may aim to:

• make your borough a place where people of different backgrounds get on well together
• challenge discrimination in all its forms, in relation to all people who work, live or visit the borough
• create an inclusive workplace
• ensure that no individual or group is disadvantaged as a result of their religion or belief
• address inequality which arises from an individual or group’s religion or belief
• recognise the role that faith communities can play in contributing to the wellbeing of people in borough and support them to fulfil this role.

Page published March 2010.