Religion and belief/non-belief inequality in Wales

Know your rights

Under human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, you have the right to hold your own religious beliefs or other philosophical beliefs similar to a religion. You also have the right to have no religion or belief.

Under the Equality Act 2006, it is unlawful for someone to discriminate against you because of your religion or belief (or because you have no religion or belief):

in any aspect of employment

when providing goods, facilities and services

when providing education

in using or disposing of premises, or

when exercising public functions.

There are, however, some limited exceptions when discrimination may be lawful. You can find out more about these in this section of the site.

Under British anti-discrimination and human rights legislation, you are also entitled to practise your religion or belief, express your views and get on with your day-to-day life without experiencing threats or discrimination.

Religious discrimination can occur when you don’t have the same religious or philosophical beliefs as someone else, or because you have no religious beliefs, and because of that someone treats you less favourably than somebody else who does share their religion or belief.

It can also happen because of the religious or philosophical beliefs of someone you are associated with, or if someone thinks you have certain beliefs when actually you do not.