 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2019) |
A protected group, protected class (US), or prohibited ground (Canada) is a category by which people are qualified for special protection by a law, policy, or similar authority.
In Canada and the United States, the term is frequently used in connection with employees and employment and housing. Where illegal discrimination on the basis of protected group status is concerned, a single act of discrimination may be based on more than one protected class. For example, discrimination based on antisemitism may relate to religion, ethnicity, national origin, or any combination of the three; discrimination against a pregnant woman might be based on sex, marital status, or both.[1] Exemptions to anti-discrimination laws include citizenship discrimination[2] and religious exemptions.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
USLegalwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "2. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination". United Nations Treaty Collection.