Recognise ‘Veteran’ as a protected characteristic in law.

We are concerned that, without a clear legal duty to recognise and act on veteran status, avoidable disadvantage may continue across healthcare, housing, employment and the justice system. The Armed Forces Covenant sets important expectations, but without Equality Act protection there is not the same legal compulsion on public bodies and other organisations as exists for recognised protected characteristics. We believe recognising ‘Veteran’ as a protected characteristic would strengthen early intervention, fair treatment and better outcomes, in line with the aims of the Equality Act 2010.

For the purposes of this petition, ‘veteran’ is defined in line with the UK Government definition: anyone who has served at least one day in the UK Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve).