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Background to NCCRI

European Year Against Racism 1997 was designated European year Against Racism by the European Council of Ministers and members states. In Ireland a National Coordinating Committee of government departments/agencies and non government organisations was established by the Department of Equality and Law Reform. A key aim of the Year was the development of sustainable policies to address racism particularly at national level. There were a wide range of outcomes from the 1997, European Year against Racism which are relevant to the work of the national Consultative Committee. These include a range of initiatives in relation to the racism experienced by Refugees and asylum seekers, Travellers and other Black and minority ethnic groups In Ireland. The National Committee established to coordinate the year developed a number of strategic programmes on Education; the Workplace; Women; the Strategic Management Initiative/National Anti Poverty Strategy; the media and development aid/education. There was also a significant North/South dimension to the Year focused on training exchange of information and best practice and the identification of further areas for future cooperation. The report of 1997 European Year Against Racism is available from Government publications, Sun Alliance Building, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. In the Report of the Year by the National Coordinating Committee, four key recommendations were made: Advisory Committee on Racism and Interculturalism To progress the work commenced as part of the EYAR, the National Coordinating Committee recommended, to the Department of Justice Equality and law Reform, the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Racism and Interculturalism with a budget to cover core staffing, programme resourcing research and a fund for local actions. Equality Proofing To ensure that the needs of minority ethnic groups, including Travellers and Black people; refugees and asylum seekers, become mainstream concerns of government Departments, Equality and anti poverty objectives of public policy should include a focus on anti racism and the positive inclusion of minority ethnic groups. Commitments in Existing Government Policy and Legislation The Commitments in existing government policy, reaffirmed during the Dáil debate on racism, on the Equality legislation, monitoring of the Task Force Report on Travellers and the full implementation of the Refugee Act, should be given greater urgency to prevent further slippage in time scales. Resources to Minority Ethnic Groups Many minority ethnic groups receive limited funding. The Committee recommended that existing funding programmes such as the Community Development Programme should enhance their current support and new programmes of support should be developed by other government departments, where appropriate. These recommendations will provide the basis for some of the future work of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism.