Official Response

Official Responses

1 Stop
Asylum applicants queueing outside an advice centre in England. Photograph by David Levene

Incomers and members of minority ethnic groups have not always felt welcome here and report negative attitudes and unequal treatment by official bodies as well as individuals in society. Institutional Racism exists when there is collective failure to deal with people properly. This is similar to Systemic Racism where policies, practices and systems that work against certain groups of people become embedded in organisations. For example, deciding to treat everyone in exactly the same way may result in disadvantaging a group whose needs are not met by this policy. There is increasing awareness of the dangers and policies are being put in place to redress them.

Until very recently we have had a concentration on Community Relations strategies locally that attempted to address the divisions between Protestant and Catholic communities.  The term Good Relations is applied to dealing positively with other forms of difference. The Belfast Agreement of 1998 refers to equality and parity of esteem for people from different social, religious and ethnic backgrounds. This has been given legal backing. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 obliges public bodies to promote equality of opportunity between different groups of people, including ‘racial groups’. They are also obliged to promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group. Public bodies are obliged to have Equality Schemes and to submit their policies to Equality Impact Assessments that are open to public scrutiny.

Under the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 it was already unlawful for discriminate either directly or indirectly on racial grounds, in terms of employment and training; education; provision of goods and services and the disposal and management of premises and advertisements. The Human Rights Act 1998 gave people rights to protection under the European Convention on Human Rights. A Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission have been set up in Northern Ireland to ensure that existing legislation and practice protect and uphold human rights and equality. They also have an advisory role on these issues.

Following consultation, the UK Government published A Shared Future Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland [pdf] (2005). It carries the aspiration that, through time, we will achieve, ‘ a normal civic society, in which all individuals are considered as equals’…’A society where there is equity, respect for diversity and recognition of our interdependence.’ The first policy objective flowing from this is to ‘eliminate sectarianism, racism and all forms of prejudice and to enable people to live and work without fear or intimidation’. Northern Ireland is recognised as no longer being a bipolar society but one which is enriched by becoming more culturally diverse. It is also recognised however, that racism has emerged as a problem.

In practical terms, Government is setting up an inter-departmental Good Relations Panel to shape policies and institutions. It includes faith representatives. The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) has a policy role and is responsible for challenging, undertaking research and monitoring progress. The new 2007 ministerial pledge of office includes the words ‘and will promote a shared future’.

The existing Community Relations Council has an enhanced role in good relations work, independent of Government and representative of civic society. Community Relations Officers (CROs) in district councils fund local good relations activities.  A Shared Future recognises the role that churches and other faith-based organisations have to play in developing good relations at local level.

In July 2005, to complement A Shared Future, the government also published: A Racial Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland 2005-2010 [pdf]

It has 6 shared aims – shared that is with minority ethnic representatives

  • Equal protection and redress against racism and racist crime
  • Equality of service provision for minority ethnic people in accessing public services
  • To increase the sense of participation and belonging of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in public, political, economic, social and cultural life.
  • To promote dialogue and mutual understanding between people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds
  • To build capacity within minority ethnic communities

Priority areas for practical action include training and employment, housing and accommodation, health, education, the criminal justice system, and the particular areas of concern around immigration, asylum and the exploitation of migrant workers.
Under this strategy, The Racial Equality Unit within OFMDFM manages a fund that is targeted at helping minority ethnic groups and other groups in the wider community to work together to foster integration. (See http://www.pfgni.gov.uk/) As well as the Racial Equality Unit, Government has set up a Racial Equality Forum to help draw up an action plan, to implement the strategy, and to monitor and review progress.
The Journey Towards Healing [pdf] booklet and training course on trauma for pastoral carers in faith-based organisations has been developed under the auspices of the Victims Unit OFMDFM and includes a recognition of trauma experienced through racism.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has appointed Minority Liaison Officers in each area to respond to the increase in racial incidents and have published Hate Crime, Racial Incidents: Protecting your Rights [pdf]

Useful documents:

Web sites:

About

EMBRACE is a group of Christians working together to promote a positive response to people seeking asylum, refugees, migrant workers and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland.

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