Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which extends the anti-discrimination provisions of the Convention, was signed by the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 4 November 2000 in Rome. Ireland already has a comprehensive anti-discrimination protection legal code in place since the enactment of the employment equality and equal status Acts which prohibit discrimination on nine separate grounds. It has also put in place an equality infrastructure which offers procedures for individuals to pursue complaints in regard to discrimination experienced on any of these grounds. Ireland, has, therefore, already provided in national law for many of the provisions of Protocol 12. The question of the ratification of Protocol 12 is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Ten ratifications are needed for this protocol to come into force; to date eight countries have ratified the protocol. The Netherlands and Cyprus are the only European Union member states to have ratified the protocol.