Foreign office getting the list of protected characteristics wrong..

[ChateauMargaux]

fco.tal.net/vx/appcentre-ext/brand-2/candidate/so/pm/4/pl/1/opp/17139-Political-Affairs-Intern-CHEB22-309/en-GB

'We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.'

Everyday erasure of the protected rights of women.

Odd, it's always the same one that these organisations seem to get wrong.

The power of interns…

Ah - the captured civil service shines again with their deliberate mangling of the laws of the land.

Well, what is that but discrimination, thereby disproving their woeful attempt to claim that they challenge discrimination and do not discriminate?

Liz Truss should be aware of what her department is up to. I wonder if she's on twitter. I'm not, so I don't know.

This constant BS is making my blood boil.

We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.',

They didn't get it wrong, they just left us out. This is a new and innovative way to erase women whilst retaining plausible deniability.

Is "colour" really protected by law? What does that mean?

Agree with @FOJN. Technically they haven't got anything wrong...it's just a case of CS "weasel words". Nowhere have they said, that the list reflects the EA2020, just that they value difference etc.

Discrimination on sex based grounds is covered by the wording "other category protected by law"

It's frustrating and if people feel strongly then tweet the FC&DO. If enough people speak out, maybe next time the wording will be less ambiguous.

"Veteran status" is very odd wording - have they cut and pasted that nonsense from a US organisation's DEI blurb? (Though "colour" has the British English spelling, so perhaps not.)

Veteran status is not an American import. Veterans U.K. is a part of the MOD and they look after ex service peoples needs. Most Gov't Departments have a team who liaise with MOD/the forces to help those leaving or who have left the forces.

They may not have technically got it wrong but they are conflating various characteristics with the actual lawfully protected characteristics through the wording ‘or other category protected by the law’. It’s this kind of thing that confuses the picture for so many people with regards to what is and what is not meant by the law.

The law is the minimum that is required.....businesses, the CS etc can extend their non-discrim policies wider than those covered by protected statistics and that is what has happened with this job vacancy.

It's basically saying we want the best person for the job regardless.

Maybe someone should drop Liz Truss a word?

I always point out that it looks like you are listing the protected characteristics but have listed these two g, this is what they are. Anything else is going beyond the Equality Act 2010.

If you are going to list them then at least get it right.

Should say listed these wrong

It looks like this wording is only used for recruitment overseas (ie not for recruitment of UK nationals in the UK or for overseas posts, but for recruitment of nationals of other countries, in those countries). I can't see it on civil service jobs adverts...don't think that should make a difference though?

Isn't it just