Enforcement and Effectiveness of Antidiscrimination Law: Global Commonalities and Practices

Abstract

Almost every nation in the world embraces the principle of equality and non-discrimination, in theory if not in practice. The bases that find protection are broader in some countries, narrower in others. The sources of the principle vary considerably. The methods of enforcement and remedies available cover a panoply of approaches. And the effectiveness of enforcement ranges broadly. But the principle is nearly universal. How then, do we define, limit, and enforce the antidiscrimination principle. What works, where, and what doesn’t? Is there a universal answer to a universal principle? This report explores the enforcement and effectiveness of antidiscrimination law from 23 nations, found on 6 continents, and 3 international or regional bodies. In French and English, from legal scholars and scholar/practitioners, we examine national, regional and international systems looking for common practices, and innovative approaches to long-standing problems.