Explanatory Notes

Equality Act 2010

2010 CHAPTER 15

8 April 2010

Commentary on Sections

Part 2: Equality: Key Concepts

Chapter 2: Prohibited conduct
Section 17: Pregnancy and maternity discrimination: non-work cases
Effect

73.This section defines what it means to discriminate because of a woman’s pregnancy or maternity, as distinct from her sex, in specified situations outside work. It protects a woman from discrimination because of her current or a previous pregnancy. It also protects her from maternity discrimination, which includes treating her unfavourably because she is breast-feeding, for 26 weeks after giving birth and provides that pregnancy or maternity discrimination as defined cannot be treated as sex discrimination.