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Children are 'denied equal rights' under Equality Bill

The Equality Bill has been accused of not giving children the same rights as adults, after it was revealed that children have been excluded from the new age discrimination law.

The Bill, which was published on Monday, will make it illegal to treat anyone over 18 unfairly in the 'provision of goods, facilities and services' on the basis of their age.

Harriet Harman, Leader of the House of Commons, decided that children and young people will be excluded from the protection.

She told MPs, 'The provisions will not cover people under 18. It is right to treat children and young people differently.'

She added, 'There is little evidence of harmful age discrimination against young people.'

But the Young Equals coalition, a group of children's charities that includes the Children's Rights Alliance for England, the Children's Society and Save The Children, says that age discrimination is the most common form of unfair treatment experienced by children.

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