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Calls to strengthen bill to stop age discrimination

1 min read Youth Work
Charities and young people are calling on the government to strengthen the forthcoming Equality Bill to stop age discrimination towards children.

A campaign group co-ordinated by Children's Rights Alliance for England (Crae) is calling for the bill to protect children from less favorable treatment based on age in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Members of the group called Young Equals include Action for Children, the British Youth Council, The Children's Society, Families Need Fathers, Liberty, National Children's Bureau, the NSPCC, National Youth Agency, Save the Children UK and the office of the Children's Commissioner for England

Last week, CYP Now reported that Crae's director Mike Lindsay was urging the government, through the Equality Bill, to make it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of their care status.

A report outlining Young Equals' aims states: "The Equality Bill announced in last year's Queen's speech will ‘promote equality and fight discrimination.' This will include significant extension of protection against age discrimination.

"However, under the government's current proposals this new protection will only be available to those aged 18 and above. Failing to address age discrimination against children in this bill would be a missed opportunity to address unfair treatment in a range of contexts affecting the daily lives of children of all ages."

The report looks at how children are discriminated against in healthcare, child protection, access to justice, public leisure facilities, shops and restaurants, and public transport.

The Equality Bill is due to be published on Tuesday.

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