Glossary - Human Rights
In Employment and Work, Health and Disability, Housing Law, Human Rights
A personal characteristic is a quality that a person has. A personal characteristic can be something that is important to your sense of self. And it’s usually something that you cannot change about yourself.
Ontario’s Human Rights Code protects people from being treated unfairly because they have certain personal characteristics. These are sometimes called “protected grounds”.
There are 17 personal characteristics protected by the Human Rights Code, related to:
- age
- race
- disability
- religion
- sex and gender
- sexual orientation
- family and marital status
Two personal characteristics are only protected in certain situations. These are:
- getting government income supports (housing only)
- having a record of offences (employment only)
In Employment and Work, Health and Disability, Housing Law, Human Rights
Personal characteristics are qualities that a person has. Personal characteristics can be things that are important to your sense of self.
Ontario’s Human Rights Code protects people from being treated unfairly because they have certain personal characteristics. These are sometimes called “protected grounds”.
There are 17 personal characteristics protected by the Human Rights Code, related to:
- age
- race
- disability
- religion
- sex and gender
- sexual orientation
- family and marital status
Two personal characteristics are only protected in certain situations. These are:
- getting government income supports (housing only)
- having a record of offences (employment only)
