Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation.

Young children quickly learn the values we place on different categories are learned from our parents, our peers and the observations we make about how the world works.

At the heart of all forms of discrimination is prejudice based on concepts of identity, and the need to identify with a certain group.

This can lead to division, hatred and even the dehumanization of other people because they have a different identity.

In many parts of the world, the politics of blame and fear is on the rise. Intolerance, hatred and discrimination is causing an ever widening rift in societies.

The politics of fear is driving people apart as leaders peddle toxicity, blaming certain groups of people for social or economic problems.

Some governments try to reinforce their power and the status by openly justifying discrimination in the name of morality, religion or ideology.

Discrimination has direct consequences on those people and groups being discriminated against, but it has also indirect and deep consequences on society as a whole.

A society where discrimination is allowed or tolerated is a society where people are deprived from freely exercising their full potential for themselves and for society.

Discrimination occurs when people are treated less favourably than other people are in a comparable situation only because they belong, or are perceived to belong to a certain group or category of people.

People may be discriminated against because of their age, disability, ethnicity, origin, political belief, race, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, language, culture and on many other grounds.

Discrimination, which is often the result of prejudices people hold, makes people powerless, impedes them from becoming active citizens, restricts them from developing their skills and, in many situations, from accessing work, health services, education or accommodation.

The human brain naturally puts things in categories to make sense of the world.

Research shows that when people are chronically treated differently, unfairly or badly, it can have effects ranging from low self-esteem to a higher risk for developing stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Hopefully people/society will stop discrimintion.