The 1975 Instrument of Government states that public institutions shall counteract discrimination against persons on a number of grounds and it also contains an enumeration of protected fundamental individual rights, including the right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of belonging to minorities of race, colour or ethnic origin (covering also religion and belief) or on the grounds of sex. These rules, however, do not really grant any legally enforceable rights. The first rule is mainly a political declaration, whereas the implications of the others are that all Acts of Parliament and other legal regulations must satisfy these basic requirements of non-discrimination. However, laws can be declared unconstitutional only if the violation is manifest.

Regarding all areas, including working life, the new Discrimination Act contains no enumeration of the material scope. In some areas a few situations not covered by the prohibitions are enumerated. The material scope is thus wider than required by EC-law. Age is the only ground which is exempted from some of the areas to which the Discrimination Act applies.

The new Equality Ombudsman is the key public institutions for the promotion of equal rights. It has the right to investigate complaints concerning discrimination according to any of the non-discrimination acts mentioned as well as the right to represent individuals in discrimination cases that are of importance in terms of case law or otherwise.