However Australia has since been criticised because its citizens' human rights are not protected through either a Bill of Rights, or through mention in the Constitution. The right to equal opportunity is considered one of the basic human rights. Equal opportunity is a positive way of describing the absence of discrimination. People are provided with equal opportunity if they are not discriminated against because of irrelevant characteristics. Equal opportunity laws oblige people not to do certain acts, and provide a remedy for individuals when the unlawful acts are done.
Discrimination means noting the difference between things.
American Presidents of both parties supported the principle of non discrimination. For example, in 1959 the Republican Dwight D Eisenhower signed a document which required all firms with Federal Government contracts to have some recognition of equal opportunity. In 1962 the American Equal Pay Act was passed. In 1963, the Civil Rights Act was passed. This guaranteed equal access to employment to people whatever their race or sex.