Interim figures reveals upward rise in racist incidents
May-August 2004
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism
(NCCRI) reports that there has been an upward trend in the
number of racist incidents reported to their office over
the past four months (May-end of August 2004)1
More incidents have been reported to the NCCRI over the
past four months than normally occur in a six-month period.
The NCCRI is also concerned about an apparent
increase in the seriousness of incidents that occurred during
this period. These incidents (some of which are summarised
below) include assaults/ attempted assaults; harassment
(including harassment involving women and children) and
offensive verbal abuse/gestures in public places.
The NCCRI cautions against simplistic explanations and
direct causal factors being attributed to the apparent increase
in the number and seriousness of incidents over the past
four months. Nevertheless it is apparent, as the NCCRI has
noted in the past, that the number of racist incidents appears
to increase at times of heightened public discourse in relation
to issues such as immigration, citizenship and asylum policy.
The last time there was a temporary surge
in the number of racist incidents reported to the NCCRI
was in the period that coincided with the last general election
in May 2002 and the run up to the second Nice Referendum
in October 20022
Public discourse in recent months has focussed on the impact
of the expansion of the European Union and fears about an
influx of migrant workers, the Referendum on Citizenship
and issues generated during the general and local elections.
The NCCRI welcomes the forthcoming Government National
Action Plan Against Racism as an important opportunity through
which to consider how to increase protection against all
forms of racism in Ireland including discrimination and
incidents covered by the criminal law.
For more information contact Philip
Watt, Director of the NCCRI 01 8588000 / 087 6370557
Notes:
- It should be noted that these are interim
figures only and the final NCCRI report covering this
period is due to be published in November 2004.
- See Incident Report 3 on the NCCRI website
May-October 2002 www.nccri.ie
Summary of Incidents Reported to the NCCRI May to August
2004
Number of Incidents reported
Report |
Period Covered |
Number of Incidents Reported
to the NCCRI |
|
1
|
May 2001-October 2001 |
41
|
2 |
November 2001- April 2002 |
40 |
3 |
May 2002- October 2002 |
67 |
4 |
November 2002-April 2003 |
48
|
5 |
May 2003 – October 2003 |
46 |
6 |
November 2003–April 2004 |
42 |
7 |
May 2004 – end of August 2004 (NOTE:
For 4 Month period) |
50 |
Examples of racist incidents reported May-August
2004 that involved assaults, abuse and harassment:
- A group of female asylum seekers were racially harassed
and abused at their accommodation centre in a rural area
of Ireland by patrons of a local pub situated very near
the accommodation centre. They also suffered sexual harassment
and told that their asylum claims would be affected if
they created any trouble. The Reception and Integration
Agency were contacted and after investigating the claim,
transferred the women to another accommodation centre.
- An African man was subjected to racist abuse by a
group of men who also made monkey gestures towards him
in Dublin city centre. A witness to the event reported
it to the NCCRI and when he apologised to the man for
the conduct of his fellow countrymen, the man replied
that he was used to such abuse as he got it all the time.
- An Iraqi Muslim suffered damage to her property which
she considered to be an Islamaphobic attack as the culprit
had scraped “Paki shit” onto her car. The
woman lodged an official complaint with the Garda.
- A Zimbabwean woman, a couple of nights after the referendum,
was walking along the street when a group of males shouted
at her and asked her if she was starting to pack her bags
for home.
- A Nigerian woman was verbally abused by a man in the
same queue as her in the rural post office where he shouted
at her to ‘go home’, ‘stop milking the
system’, ‘we don’t want you Nigerians
or your babies here’. The woman reported the incident
to the local Garda station.
- A Pakistani woman and her child were at home in their
rented apartment in a local housing complex when two men
tried to break into her apartment. She rang the guards
and fled to the street. The two men who tried to gain
entry to her apartment followed her, accompanied by a
third person, and hurled racist comments and threats at
her. One of the men struck her in the face. The woman
fears for her life and the life of her child. She is desperate
to be located in another area but she is afraid that she
will face the same problem of racism there also. She reported
the incident to the Gardaí.
- A Nigerian-Irish married couple subjected to ongoing
and regular verbal abuse by members of the public in Limerick
city
- A South African asylum seeker in Limerick city was
attacked in the street by a group of Irish women and she
was beaten on the legs and head while insulting her with
racist comments. She reported the incident to the Garda
who she feels are treating the matter very seriously.
It was also reported in one of the Sunday newspapers in
May 2004 that west Dublin had become so unsafe for immigrants
due to intimidation and attacks that the Northern Area Health
Board had to intervene and relocate families that were experiencing
attacks or harassment on a daily basis.
Background Note
Racist Incidents Reports
In May 2001 the National Consultative Committee on Racism
and Interculturalism (NCCRI) established a system for recording
incidents related to racism in Ireland3. Incidents are analysed
and compiled into six monthly reports4. The reports aim
to:
- Provide an overview of racist incidents reported to
the NCCRI in the given six month period
- Draw out the key issues arising from the incidents
logged
- Outline how the NCCRI has responded to these key issues
- Make recommendations to a range of relevant actors.
The incidents included in this report have been forwarded
by non-governmental organisations on behalf of the victims,
including key organisations working with Travellers, refugees
and asylum seekers and migrants. Other incidents have been
reported directly to the NCCRI by the victims. The data
that is generated by this reporting system is primarily
qualitative and indicative of key issues that need to be
addressed. This report does not aim to provide a comprehensive
list of every racist incident in Ireland.
NCCRI
The National Consultative Committee on
Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) is an independent expert
body to both provide advice and to develop initiatives aimed
at addressing racism in Ireland.
Notes:
Reporting forms can be accessed through
the NCCRI website www.nccri.ie/incidents.html
The six monthly reports are also available on our website
www.nccri.ie/reportform.html
