Commission policy statement on caste discrimination

The Equality and Human Rights Commission supports the enactment of Section 9 (5) of the Equality Act 2010, which provides that a Minister may by order amend the statutory definition of race to include caste and may provide for exceptions in the Act to apply or not to apply to caste.

The Commission notes the findings of the government-commissioned National Institute of Economic and Social Research[1] paper on caste discrimination. In light of this, the Commission would suggest legal protection under the Equality Act 2010 for those experiencing discrimination in Britain should be as comprehensive as possible.

[1] "Caste discrimination and harassment in Great Britain", Metcalf, H. and Rolfe, H. 2010,

Last Updated: 17 Feb 2016