Glossary of Terms

Affirmative Action:

A policy or a programme that seeks to redress past discrimination through active measures to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment.

Civil Law:

Legislation related to the private rights of individuals and to legal actions involving these.

Constitutional Law:

The highest law of the land. Concepts laid out in the Constitution of any given country describe the State’s responsibility to their citizens and the citizens’ rights guaranteed by the State.

Criminal Law:

Laws or codes dealing with the commitment of a crime such as theft.

International Labour Office:

The permanent secretariat of the Organization, its operational headquarters, research center, and publishing house.

International Labour Organization:

A specialized tripartite United Nations agency devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, to encourage decent employment, to enhance social protection, and to strengthen social dialogue in the resolution of employment-related issues.

Labour Law:

Laws or codes that refer to issues of employment.

Non-discrimination:

Fairness in treating people without prejudice.

Penal Law:

Laws or codes which prohibit an act and impose a penalty for the commission of it.