The AK welcomes the European Commission initiative to also extend protection from discrimination on discrimination grounds contained in Directive 2000/78/EC to areas outside the working world. We hold the view that the basis for protection from discrimination, which is founded on the protection of human rights, requires a level of protection that is as uniform as possible for all grounds and for all areas. We propose also incorporating the principle of equal treatment at the beginning of the proposal for a directive in a positive light and not only stating the purpose of the directive.