What is the NCCRI?
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism
(NCCRI) was established in 1998 as an independent expert body focusing on racism
and interculturalism. The NCCRI is a partnership body which brings together
government and non-government organisations to:
- Develop an inclusive and strategic approach to combat racism by focusing
on its prevention and promoting an intercultural society
- Contribute to policy and legislative developments and seek to encourage
dialogue and progress in all areas relating to racism and interculturalism
- Encourage integrated actions towards acknowledging, celebrating and accommodating
cultural diversity
- Establish and maintain links with organisations or individuals involved
in addressing racism and promoting interculturalism at national, European
and international level
- Provide a national framework for responding to and consulting with key European
and international bodies on issues related to racism and interculturalism.
NCCRI Roles and Activities
Advisory
As an expert organisation on racism and interculturalism, the NCCRI:
- Provides advice and technical assistance to government and non-government
organisations to enable them to implement anti-racism and intercultural strategies
- Seeks to inform policy through for example submissions to a range of government
and statutory agencies to heighten awareness of the anti-racism and intercultural
policy perspectives
- Organises thematic roundtables, seminars and conferences to encourage dialogue
and information exchange.
Training and Resource
The NCCRI established a Training and Resource Unit in May 2000 to provide
anti-racism and intercultural awareness training to government and non-government
organisations and other groups. The primary aims of the training are to:
- Help participants acquire the necessary awareness to understand and meet
the challenges associated with living and working in a culturally diverse
society
- Encourage organisations to adopt policies, practices and action plans to
combat racism and promote interculturalism
- Develop resource material and publications to assist organisations and groups
in implementing a 'whole organisation' approach to address racism and promote
interculturalism
- Implement a Training for Trainers programme aimed at individuals with facilitation
and training skills who are interested in delivering anti-racism and intercultural
training in their workplace and/or regions.
Community Development
In August 2000 the Community Development Support Unit (CDSU)
was established to provide assistance and support to community groups working
with minority ethnic groups. The CDSU aims to:
- Work with relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies to support community
development strategies with minority ethnic groups
- Provide technical assistance, information and supports to minority ethnic
groups to increase their capacity, profile and participation
- Bring added value to the supports provided by other organisations working
in this area
- Highlight the collective issues and needs of ethnic minority groups to relevant
government bodies, policy-makers and service providers at all levels.
Monitoring Racist Incidents
In May 2001 the NCCRI established a complementary procedure
for reporting racist incidents in Ireland. A victim of or a witness to a racist
incident can report it to the NCCRI in confidence. The NCCRI, if requested,
will assist the victim in contacting the relevant authority responsible for
investigating and addressing the complaint. Incidents are compiled into six-monthly
reports, which aim to identify key issues arising from incidents logged and
to make recommendations to the Government. Reporting forms and six monthly reports
are available from our office or on our website: www.nccri.ie.
Information and Public Awareness
The NCCRI seeks to raise public awareness about racism and
interculturalism through the coordination of events linked to International
Day Against Racism (March 21st) and through publication of a range of materials
and resources. We also publish a regular newsletter Spectrum and disseminate
a monthly email bulletin. Leaflets, posters and most publications are available
free of charge from our office and on our website.
North/South Dimension
The NCCRI seeks to work in partnership with statutory and
non-statutory organisations such as the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
and Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) to develop North/South
strategies to address racism.
European and International Dimension
The NCCRI, in partnership with the Equality Authority, is
the Irish National Focal Point (NFP) for the EU Monitoring Centre on Racism
(EUMC) in Vienna. A function of the NFP is the preparation of reports for the
European Information Network on Racism and Xenophobia (RAXEN). The role of the
RAXEN Network is to collect, comment, review, and submit data on racism to the
EUMC in key areas, for example education, employment, housing, legislation and
racial violence.
The NCCRI works closely with a range of bodies at both global
and European levels, keeping up to date with developments in anti-racism so
as to inform and influence policy at national level.
National Action Plan Against Racism
The National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) for Ireland
arises from the Irish government's commitments given at the UN World Conference
Against Racism in September 2001. The NCCRI played a key role in the preparation
and consultative phases of the NPAR and will seek to continue this supporting
role as the Plan is published and implemented.
The NCCRI is core funded by the Department of Justice,
Equality and Law Reform. Funding for the Community Development Support Unit
comes from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the
Department of Social and Family Affairs.
