The principle contained in all the rules on the possession and enjoyment of human rights is that all people are equal. Human rights are rights that human beings have because they are human beings. The principle of equality is usually expressed as the principle of non-discrimination, ie. as the prohibition of discrimination. The original meaning of the word discrimination (lat. Discriminare) is differentiation. Over time this term, at least in law, lost his neutrality and got a negative connotation of unlawful discrimination. In the area of human rights, discrimination is a distinction in terms of possession and the scope of rights that are not permitted for the basics and ways of differentiation. Discrimination at work and in connection with the work of civil servants, is seen as qualitatively different phenomena, which are differently motivated and regulated by special regulations and against which people must fight in different ways. Unequal treatment, more evaluation of individual groups (rich-poor, male or female, old-young, local citizens - foreign nationals ...), humiliation, elimination of the subject that does not fit into the dominant system group, the characteristics of society as a whole since its inception. It was not until the late 18th and early 19th century that it comes to the development of awareness that certain rights (eg, right to life, to freedom ...) belong to people because they are human beings, and comes to the regulation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination principles. However, apply the definition of discrimination, as will be exposed, came out of their frames - are not limited to the so-called. personal characteristics. A large contribution to such a broad interpretation has been given by the European Court of Human Rights. In Croatia, this principle is incorporated in the Constitution and regulated in detail by the Law on the Prevention of Discrimination. For a better interpretation of the concept of discrimination at work and in connection with the work of civil servants, the paper presents a comparative understanding of the EU, European Court of Human Rights, as well as the decisions of domestic courts. The European Court is set aside and especially dubious distinction basics such as gender, religion, race and sexual orientation, which require that cater especially heavy burden of proof to justify the unequal treatment. Open definition of the prohibition of discrimination on any grounds opens the way for a broader interpretation of discrimination, which in addition to traditional forms mentioned in international treaties, including all other existing and new forms of discrimination.