Contexts
The work of the NCCRI is developed within the context of increasing cultural
diversity in Ireland and significant policy developments at national and European
level. This section is divided as follows:
- Cultural diversity in Ireland
- Main developments of policy at national level.
- Main developments in policy at European level.
Cultural diversity in Ireland
Until recent times the recognition of cultural diversity and the need to address
racism have not been key priorities in shaping public policy. The Traveller
community, an indigenous Irish minority ethnic group, has an estimated 22,000
people in the South and 1,300 in the North. The Chinese community numbers 8,000
in the North. The North and South both have long established Jewish communities
and growing Islamic and Asian communities. In the South there are now refugees
and asylum seekers from over 100 countries, including Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo,
Romania, Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Sudan, Somalia and from ethnic groups that
transcend national boundaries such as the Roma and the Kurds.
In both the North and South, there are now more visible populations of Black
Irish and other EU and non-EU citizens who are living in Ireland, who experience
racism on the basis of skin colour and ethnic origin.
A further factor contributing to increased awareness about cultural diversity
in Ireland is increased inward migration. In response to rapid economic growth
in Ireland, an increasing number of migrant workers are coming to Ireland to
meet skills and labour shortages. Over 20,000 work permits and visas issued
in Ireland in 2000, twice the number of people who applied for asylum.
The government has estimated that the economy will need many thousands of migrant
workers over the next few years if economic growth is to be sustained. Many
of these will be returning Irish emigrants and others will drawn from non EU
countries in eastern Europe, the far east and from India and Pakistan.
Forms of Racism in Ireland
The NCCRI has identified a number of different forms of racism in the Irish
context, including:
- Racism experienced by Travellers on the basis of their distinct ethnic and
nomadic identity, and
- Racism experienced by refugees and asylum seekers
- Racism experienced by Travellers on the basis of their distinct ethnic and
nomadic identity, and
- Racism experienced by Black and minority ethnic groups on the basis of their
skin colour and ethnic identity.
- The racism and potential exploitation of migrant workers
- The particular forms of racism experienced by women from minority ethnic
groups.
- The potential for institutional forms of racism.
Main developments in policy at national level
A wide range of policies and approaches to address racism are beginning to
emerge at national, EU and international levels. This section outlines the main
developments in recent policy that have the potential to impact on racism.
The main developments to address racism in Ireland include:
- The enactment of equality legislation including the Employment Equality
Act (1998) and the Equal Status Act (2000) which prohibits discrimination
on a range of grounds including ?race?, colour, nationality, ethnic or national
origin or membership of the Traveller community in the employment and non-employment
areas respectively.
- The development of an equality infrastructure to oversee and implement the
equality legislation including the establishment of the Equality Authority
and the Office of the Director of Equality Investigations (1999 to present).
- The establishment and development of the NCCRI, which is outlined in this
progress report (1998 to present).
- Government ratification of UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination (2001)
- Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community and the establishment
of monitoring committees to oversee its implementation (1995 to present).
- Recent initiatives by An Garda Síochána to promote human rights
and to meet the challenges of policing in an intercultural society (1999 to
present)
- Emerging commitments to promote equality and to accommodate anti racism
strategies through the National Anti-Poverty Strategy, the National Development
Plan, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and the Strategic Management
Initiative (1997 to present).
- The forthcoming establishment of a Human Rights Commission the incorporation
of the European Convention on Human Rights into Irish law arising out of the
Belfast Agreement (2000).
- The emergence of interculturalism and equality as core values in adult and
further education policy and commitments in the recently reviewed curriculum
at primary and secondary level.
- Policy on the Integration of Refugees arising from the Governments Report:
Integration: A two way process, including an anti racism public awareness
programme.
Recent EU and international developments.
The following are some of the key development at EU and international level,
which have the potential to impact on racism.
- The EU has enacted a Directive on Racism that will place an onus on member
states to effect legislation to outlaw discrimination in the workplace and
services that will be similar in some ways to Ireland?s equality legislation.
An EU programme of action has been developed to prepare member states for
the Directive.
- The EU has also established a monitoring centre on racism (EUMC) based in
Vienna that has potential to bring cohesion to EU-wide strategies to address
racism. The Council of Europe monitors developments in racism through the
European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
- At EU level there is also increasing concern to harmonise immigration and
asylum policy. A key challenge to the EU and member states will be to ensure
that such harmonisation meets accepted European and international standards
on human rights.
- The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), a coalition of NGOs from member
states throughout the EU was established with support from the Commission
as one of the outcomes of the European Year Against Racism (1997). ENAR has
been active in campaigns for EU policies on racism.
- At an international level, the forthcoming World Conference on Racism being
organised by the United Nations indicates the concern at the levels of racism
throughout the world and its potential to undermine key standards of human
rights and to create instability within and between countries. The Conference
should conclude with intergovernmental agreement on a Declaration and Programme
of Action.
The Role of Civil Society in Addressing Racism
It is also clear from this report that civil society, in particular the community
and voluntary sector and other social partner organisations, have contributed
significantly to the emergence of strategies to address racism at European and
national level.
The leadership from civil society in addressing racism has been a consistent
feature of policy development across Europe and within Ireland. The role of
NGO?s has also been recognised at a global level and is a key feature of the
World Conference on Racism. The role of NGO?s can include:
- Campaigning and lobbying for stronger government action to address racism.
- Participating in partnership initiatives to address racism.
- Facilitating the participation of minority ethnic groups in measures to
address racism.
- Raising public awareness.
- Highlighting the experience of groups that experience racism.
Conclusion
There is increased recognition of cultural diversity in Ireland. This has in
part stemmed from recognition of the rights of existing minority ethnic groups,
including Travellers, the increase in the numbers of people seeking asylum and
more recently the increase in the numbers of migrant workers who are being encouraged
to come to Ireland to meet skill and labour shortages.
This section has outlined a wide range of policies being developed at national
and European level to address racism. The purpose of this review has not been
to engender a sense of complacency, but to identify a bedrock of policies that
can be built upon and enhanced in the coming months and years.
Policies to address racism cannot be seen in isolation to other policy developments
that have the potential to impact on minority ethnic groups. Many of these policies
will be complementary, particularly if they seek to acknowledge the needs of
minority ethnic groups and build in an anti racism and intercultural dimension.
However there may also be tension between different public policy priorities
in relation to contentious issues such as refugee and asylum policy and immigration
policy. Such related policy areas need to be proofed to ensure that they are
consistent with overall policy to address racism and the promotion of human
rights and equality which are the cornerstones of an inclusive and intercultural
society.
