Getting back to Joe's original post, he asked where the adage came from and, what is its intent?

Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law." It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 3rd session on 10 December 1948 as Resolution 217 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France.

Sure looks good on paper, but I think we can all see that the last part of the declaration is largely wishful thinking.
It is also quite obvious that a large body of law exists where men are discriminated against under the law on the basis of race, colour and sexual orientation.