Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents.

It is also the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of the way they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.

Equality recognises that historically certain groups of people with protected characteristics such as race, disability, sex and sexual orientation have experienced discrimination.

The UK has made huge progress towards a more equal society.

Today the vast majority of us are studying, working or making friends with people from other ethnic backgrounds.

Some outdated stereotypes are beginning to fade.

Minority ethnic groups which used to lag far behind in educational performance have begun to catch up.

There have been huge changes in attitudes towards lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Disabled people also have more rights than ever before. The social model of disability proposes that barriers, negative attitudes and exclusion by society are the real factors defining who is disabled and who is not.

Extract from the Equality and Human Rights Commission