Written Answers. - Anti-Racism Measures.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
237
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the precise steps Ireland will be taking to honour its commitment in the Strasbourg Declaration towards the elimination of racism; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[22342/00]
The declaration adopted at the European Conference on Racism in Strasbourg identified three areas for action to prevent and eliminate racism, i.e., legal measures, policy measures and education and training measures. Many of the steps outlined in the declaration have already been taken by Ireland. For example, we now have a comprehensive anti-discrimination legal code in place and an equality infrastructure which offers redress for individuals to pursue complaints in regard to discrimination experienced on nine grounds, including religion, race and membership of the Traveller community. These have been provided under the Employment Equality Act and Equal Status Act.
Social inclusion strategies, including those under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness in the area of social inclusion-anti-poverty-education have encompassed marginalised social groups including Travellers and other minorities. Action will be taken, where appropriate, to specifically incorporate an anti-racism dimension into these strategies.
As regards international instruments, arrangements are being made to secure ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) by the end of this year. The EU race directive was adopted in June of this year and steps will be taken to make any necessary amendments to domestic legislation to bring it into force here.
More details of the precise steps already taken and those under way under the three headings are as follows:
Legal Measures
Racial discrimination in employment, training, accommodation, education and the supply of goods and services, including public services, is outlawed by the Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the Equal Status Act, 2000.
The Human Rights Commission Act, 2000 was enacted earlier this year. The Commission, which is being established under the Act, will be a powerful new independent body charged with the task of keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of our laws in relation to the protection of human rights in their widest sense.
The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989, makes it an offence to incite hatred against any group of persons on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, or membership of the Traveller community. The Act is under review at present to see if it can be made more effective.
The Offences Against the State, Act, 1939 enables the State to declare illegal and prohibit organisations which promote and incite racial discrimination. That Act also renders membership of such organisations a criminal offence.
EU Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, also known as the "Race Directive", will be transposed into Irish law by 2003.
Ireland has already signed the major universal and European human rights instruments and complies fully with their terms. Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is expected to be completed by the end of this year. On 4 November in Rome, Ireland signed Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Protocol No. 12 is a measure intended to take further steps to promote the equality of all persons through the collective enforcement of a general prohibition of discrimination. Work on the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into national law is continuing.
The Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was ratified by Ireland on 1 May 1999.
Policy Measures
An equality infrastructure has been put in place to underpin our anti-discrimination legislation, i.e., the Equality Authority and the Office of Director of Equality Investigations. They provide free advice and redress to those who have suffered racial discrimination.
A committee to monitor and co-ordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on the travelling community was established in June, 1998. The committee chaired by my Department, is representative of Traveller interests, the four social partners and relevant Departments. The committee is currently preparing its first progress report for submission to Government later this month.
In 1998, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) was established. The NCCRI has been instrumental in drawing together key Government bodies and NGO groups to address racism.
Earlier this year, the NCCRI, as part of its overall aim of developing an integrated approach against racism, introduced an Anti-Racism Protocol for political parties and a Declaration of Intent for candidates for elections.
The Garda, under the auspices of the Garda Community Relations Section, have recently established a Garda Intercultural Unit. In addition, a working group has been reviewing all aspects of Garda training in the area of human rights in order to develop best practice in the light of ongoing changes in the policing environment.
The Director General of our Prisons Service recently sought proposals for the development of a research and training project for staff and inmates of the prison system to increase their awareness of cultural diversity and aspects of racism that are potentially in each prison.
Last March, the Government decided to establish a reception and integration agency. Its functions will include planning and co-ordinating the provision of services to both asylum seekers and refugees. It will also co-ordinate and implement integration policy for all refugees, including programme refugees, and persons granted leave to remain in Ireland.
The Government has commitments to wider social inclusion policies, e.g., local development programme; community development programme and the national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS. The NAPS was launched in April, 1997 and has set a ten-year target for poverty reduction in Ireland.
Educational and Training Measures
In October, the Government agreed to proposals for a framework for a comprehensive public awareness campaign, with a core budget of £1.5 million per annum over a three-year period, to address racism and promote a more inclusive, intercultural society.
An anti-racism in the workplace week, organised jointly by IBEC, the Construction Industry Federation, ICTU and the Equality Authority took place from 6 to 10 November 2000.
In 1998, the Government allocated a sum of £900,000 to fund a Traveller Communications Programme over a three year period, 1999 to 2001. The objective of the programme, entitled "Citizen Traveller" is to address the underlying causes of mistrust between Travellers and the settled community and to promote a greater understanding between both communities.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform provides funds towards a mediation service for the Traveller community operated by Pavee Point Traveller Centre. One of the main objectives of the mediation service is to encourage the development of new and constructive approaches to the resolution of disputes and conflicts, particularly where they affect the Traveller community.
Issues of tolerance and anti-racism are addressed in the new primary school curriculum through the social, personal and health education, SPHE, programme. Civic, social and political education is a core subject in the junior cycle for recognised post-primary schools. The CSPE programme prepares students for active participatory citizenship and to understand and respect human rights. The White Paper on Adult Education, published in July, acknowledges the challenge of providing an intercultural education.
A "Schools Against Racism" week is being organised in March 2001.
The NCCRI has undertaken anti-racism training for statutory agencies and public bodies.
Question No. 238 taken with Question No. 91.
