16-24 MARCH 2013 –
EUROPEAN WEEK AGAINST RACISM (EWAR)
Theme:
Make hate crime visible – Report Racism!
March 21st, International Day Against Racism
March 21st is International Day Against Racism, a day when the people across the globe show their opposition to racism. This annual event declared as a memorial by the United Nations in response to the murder of 69 anti-apartheid demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960.
European Week Against Racism
European Week Against Racism centres on International Day Against Racism and is co-ordinated in Ireland by the Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland). This Year, the focus is on making hate crime visible by reporting racist incidents. To find out how to report a racist incident, visit www.reportracism.ie
Take Action!
The Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland) produces an online calendar for European Week Against Racism. We publicise events and recognise the excellent work in anti-racism undertaken in Ireland.
If you’re organising an activity for the European Week Against Racism, Let us Know! Please answer the questions below, email them back to us at enarireland@gmail.com and we will include it in our online Calendar of Events!
Your action might be large or small – the important thing is that you Speak Out Against Racism!
Maybe you want to hold an event? If you are looking for ideas, check out what people did last year on last year’s calendar at www.enarireland.org/ewar2012 or see what’s happening across Europe by visiting United at www.unitedagainstracism.org
Maybe you don’t have many resources but want to make your voice heard? Well, this could be the time to report a racist incident? This is the time to call on the Government to change the law to recognise racist crime. Sign our petition or report a racist incident online at www.enarireland.org
Get organised and let us know!
If you’re organising an activity for the European Week Against Racism or the International Day Against Racism, send us the detail via email for inclusion in our calendar. We’ll need the following:
- Title of activity
- Name of organisation
- Description of activity (100 words max.)
- Date
- Time
- Location
- Fee to attend the event
- Contact person
- Telephone
- Email address for bookings or press
- Website
For info on what’s happening in Ireland, visit our website,www.enarireland.org
For materials and information on the campaign across Europe, visit United’s website,www.unitedagainstracism.org
Coming Soon:
www.reportracism.ie
Making reporting racism easy and effective
The Irish Network Against Racism is a national network and the Irish Coordination for the European Network Against Racism.
STATEMENT
Senator Mooney’s comments reveal weaknesses in our legislation and leadership on racism
The Irish Network Against Racism voices its concerns at the discriminatory comments by Senator Paschal Mooney that he chooses not to use non national taxi drivers. His comments come at a time when racism is a serious issue for taxi drivers, threatening their safety and ability to earn a living.
Catherine Lynch, Director, said ‘the duty of elected representatives is to represent everyone irrespective of their background. It is of great concern when politicians make racist comments. When our leaders discriminate, they sent the message to the public that this kind of behaviour is okay.”
“It is well known that racism is a real problem for taxi drivers, who are in a vulnerable position. Numerous racist incidents are reported to us and this is an issue already highlighted by the media. Taxi drivers have the right to try to earn a living and to do this in safety. Comments like Senator Mooney’s add fuel to the fire and must be taken seriously.’
The Network has published an Anti Racism Political Protocol which all political parties have endorsed. The protocol, established in 2001, has played an important role in ensuring that politics have been conducted in such a way that they do not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of ‘race’, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religious belief and membership of the Traveller Community. Ms Lynch went on to say “Fianna Fail have signed the protocol and we expect accountability from them and all parties.”
The Network has been long calling for more effective legislation on racism, including a review of the current incitement to hatred legislation. The fact that some politicians continue to make discriminatory comments about ethnic minorities is further evidence of the lack of awareness or adequacy of the legislation.
As the Irish Coordination for the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), we are all too aware of an increase in racism within political discourse across Europe. While in some notable countries, this has manifested through a clear rise in extremism, in other countries we hear such comments coming from the mainstream. If politicians’ racist comments go unchecked, we may face a similar situation here in Ireland.
End
For further information, contact Catherine Lynch on 087 2507942 or enarireland@gmail.com
EnarIreland@gmail.com www.enarireland.org
The Irish Network Against Racism is a national network of civil society organisations working collectively to address racism in Ireland and beyond. We are the national coordination for European Network Against Racism.
24 January 2013
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE 14 December 2012
Stop denying racism is a problem and start to deal with it.
Racism is a problem in Ireland and we do not have the means to deal with it. The Irish Network Against Racism is not surprised to hear that black people are four times more likely to experience racism than white people, according to research published by the ESRI and Equality Authority today.
Responding to the research, Catherine Lynch, Director said, “These figures are shocking but unfortunately they come as no surprise to us. They merely reflect the experiences we hear, working with people experiencing racism every day.
She went on to say that, “The research is significant as it puts us all in the picture. We can no longer deny that racism is a problem in Ireland. Instead, we have a responsibility to address it.”
Today’s research confirms that racism is a problem in all areas, employment, service provision and crime. 75% of racist incidents reported to the Network involve racist violence or crime. While there is equality legislation to help protect people against discrimination in employment and service provision, there is no law on racist crime.
Successive governments have failed to implement effective legislation to address racist crime. Nor have they provided adequate supports to ensure racist incidents are recorded.
We call on this Government to urgently reform the law to ensure racist crime is recognised and punishable. Racism is a serious issue across Europe, as it is in Ireland. Ireland holds the EU Presidency next year and our Government can show leadership by making sure we have legislation to prevent and punish racist crime.
We all have a role to play in addressing racism. It is clear that most people in Ireland do not support racism. It is time for a sometimes silenced majority who oppose racism, to be heard. We can all report racist incidents. We encourage people who have witnessed or experienced a racist incident, to report it. People can report racist incidents to the Network, in confidence, including through our website at www.enarireland.org. Reporting racist incidents gives people the opportunity to stand up and be counted, sending the message that racism will not be tolerated in Irish society.
For further information, contact Catherine Lynch on 087-2507942.
EnarIreland@gmail.com www.enarireland.org
About the Network
The Irish Network Against Racism is a national network of organisations working to address racism in Ireland and beyond. We are the national coordination for European Network Against Racism.
About the Racist Incident Monitor
The Network coordinates the national independent racist incident monitoring system. In 2011, 149 incidents were reported to the Network. This number was exceeded by September 2012. 75% of incidents involve racist violence and crime. Racist incidents are under-reported internationally and research in Ireland suggests that at most, 1 in 6 people report racist incidents.
Catherine reminds us of why the Irish government needs to recognise racist crime in Irish law, as a priority. Lend your voice to the silent majority and tell the government racist crime cannot be tolerated. Sign the online petition below. For more on this subject, go to http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-racism-is-the-irish-reality-we-need-to-stop-pretending-otherwise-391725-Mar2012/
DIVERSE VOICES OF WOMEN TODAY
BREAKING THE SILENCE ON RACISM
Click for Poster - diverse voices of women
Tuesday 2 october 2012 in Wood Quay Venue,
Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 at 10.30am-4pm
A unique opportunity for women from minority ethnic communities and other stakeholders to come together to explore the gender perspective of racism. This conference will provide a space for women from a wide range of backgrounds and other relevant stakeholders, to share their speci c experiences of sexism and racism and to
generate ideas and commitments to work together towards equality and integration.
Speakers include:
Fakhra Salimi – Director of the MiRA Resource Centre for Black, Immigrant and Refugee Women, Oslo
Anastasia Crickley – Member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mariaam Bhatti – Domestic Workers Action Group, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland
Monica Makulova – Roma Project, Pavee Point Travellers Centre
Maria Joyce – National Traveller Women’s Forum
Nobule Ncube – Akidwa
Welcome address by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary- General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women (by video link up)
RSVP by 18th Sept to enarireland@gmail.com or call 01 8897110 ref: ‘Women’s Conference’
Some childcare support may be available. If you require support, please let us know asap.
Check out our website, www.enarireland.org
This project is co-fi nanced by the European Commission under the European Integration Fund and is supported by the O ce for the Promotion of Migrant Integration in the Department of Justice and Equality and Pobal
INVITATION
Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland)
invites you to
Seminar on
Freedom of Religion and Belief:
Implications for Contemporary Ireland
Key note speaker: Professor Malcolm Evans OBE, University of Bristol
Chaired by Anastasia Crickley, NUI Maynooth
The seminar provides a space to explore issues and opportunities arising out of religious diversity and to identify strategies to both accommodate diversity and address discrimination in Ireland.
Date: Tuesday 1st May 2012
Time: 10.30 am – 4.00pm
Where: Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1.
For more info, go to Seminar on Religion (FORB) Info Note
RSVP: Laura Curtin, EnarIreland@gmail.com Tel. 01 8897110 by Thursday 26th April please.
The Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland) is a national network of organisations working collectively to highlight and address racism. We are the Irish Coordination for the European Network Against Racism, an EU-wide network of over 700 NGOs.
Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland), 55 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Enarireland@gmail.com www.enarireland.org www.enar-eu.org
EWAR 2012.Action
Speak Out Against Racism this
EUROPEAN WEEK AGAINST RACISM (17-25 March)
1 Find Out What’s Going On!
Visit the Online Calendar at
www.enarireland.org/ewar2012
2 Sign the Petition on Racist Crime
Support the campaign to have racist crime recognised in Irish Law
Sign our petition online at www.enarireland.org
3 Report racist incidents
Report racist incidents online at www.enarireland.org or call us on 01 8897110 for more info. In cases of emergency call 999.
The Irish Network Against Racism is a national network and part of the European Network Against Racism.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
| PRESS STATEMENT
6th March 2012
Death threat to ENAR Director highlights urgent need for laws on racist crime
Michaël Privot, Director of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), received a death threat following his participation in a live web-chat on freedom of expression, organised by Belgian weekly magazine Le Vif/L’Express on 28 February 2012. The threat against ENAR’s director was posted anonymously on the magazine’s webpage. He has lodged a complaint today for incitement to racial hatred and violence, in Brussels.
The European Network Against Racism is very concerned by this manifestation of racial hatred and violence. The proliferation of hate speech on internet platforms makes clear the need for systematic and preventative measures.
In light of this threat, the Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland) reiterates its call on the Irish Government to reform the criminal law to deal with racist crime, including incitement against hatred.
Catherine Lynch, National Coordinator said, “Reports of racist incidents received by the Irish Network Against Racism indicate the urgent need for action by Government on racially motivated crimes. Many of the commitments made by successive governments to protecting people from racially motivated crime, have not been met. We should not think that because this particular incident happened in Belgium, that it could not happen Ireland. Activists and others who speak out against racism have been targeted here also. Only last month for example, Aodhan Ó Riordáin, Labour TD, became the target of hate mail, after he stood up against racist comments by a fellow politician, Cllr. Darren Scully.”
The UN is among those who have criticised Ireland’s response to racist incidents. In March last year the UN Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) noted that the review of the Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 had stalled. It also recommended that the racist motivation be consistently taken into account as an aggravating factor in sentencing practice for criminal offences.
It is worrying to note that this incident is the latest in a series of threats directed at representatives of ENAR member organisations in several countries (including Doros Polykarpou from the organisation KISA in Cyprus, Jallow Momodou from the National Afro-Swedish Association in Sweden, and Andreas Hieronymus from the Institut for Migrations- und Rassismusforschung in Germany), not to mention the numerous individuals across Europe who face racist violence (whether verbal or physical) on a daily basis.
ENAR Chair Chibo Onyeji said: “This latest incident shows that the climate of hatred and intolerance against migrants and ethnic and religious minorities in Europe has direct and very real consequences on individuals’ safety and well-being. We urge the EU authorities to finally take concrete steps to address these threats to the peace, security and cohesion of our societies.”
For further information, contact:
Georgina Siklossy, Communication and Press Officer
Tel: +32 (0)2 229 35 70 - Mobile: +32 (0)473 49 05 31
E-mail: georgina@enar-eu.org - Website: http://www.enar-eu.org/
Or
Catherine Lynch, Irish Network Against Racism, Tel. 087 2507942 E-mail enarireland@gmail.com
Notes to the editor:
1. The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) is a network of more than 700 NGOs working to combat racism in all EU member states. ENAR aims to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to promote equality of treatment between EU citizens and third country nationals.
2. A summary of the live chat on Le Vif/L’Express, as well as comments, can be found here. The death threat comment was removed by Le Vif/L’Express as soon as it was reported to them. URL for press statement: http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/pdfpress/2012-03-05%20death%20threat%20complaint-final.pdf
3. The Irish Network Against Racism is the National Coordination for the ENAR in Ireland. See www.enarireland.org for more information.
The Irish Network Against Racism shall launch its annual State of Nation Report and the European Shadow Report on Racism during the European Week Against Racism (17-25 March).
4. Aodhan Ó Riordáin lodged a complaint under the Incitement to Hatred Act in November 2011, in response to comments made by Cllr. Darren Scully indicating that he would not represent “black Africans”. He subsequently received hate mail, see for media article in the Herald for example at http://www.herald.ie/news/well-put-a-bullet-in-your-brain-sick-hate-mail-to-td-3020046.html |
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ENAR 60 Rue Gallait, B-1030 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 229 35 70, Fax: +32 2 229 35 75
info@enar-eu.org www.enar-eu.org |
Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland), 55 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Tel. 01 8897110 / 087 2507942. enarireland@gmail.com www.enarireland.org
17-25 MARCH – EUROPEAN WEEK AGAINST RACISM (EWAR 2012)
Organising an event for European Week Against Racism?
Let us know!
If you’re organising an activity for the European Week Against Racism, Let us Know! Please answer the questions below, email them back to us at enarireland@gmail.com and we will include it in our online Calendar of Events!
Your action might be large or small – the important thing is that you Speak Out Against Racism!
Maybe you want to hold an event? Maybe you don’t have many resources but want to make your voice heard? Well, this could be the time to report a racist incident? This is the time to call on the Government to change the law to recognise racist crime. Sign our petition or report a racist incident online at www.enarireland.org
European Week Against Racism
European Week Against Racism centres on International Day Against Racism and is co-ordinated in Ireland by the Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland). This Year, the focus is on Speaking Out Against Racism.
March 21st, International Day Against Racism
March 21st is International Day Against Racism, a day when the people across the globe show their opposition to racism. This annual event declared as a memorial by the United Nations in response to the murder of 69 anti-apartheid demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa, in 1960.
EnarIreland@gmail.com Tel. 01-8897110 www.enarireland.org
Get organised and let us know!
If you’re organising an activity for the European Week Against Racism or the International Day Against Racism, send us the detail via email for inclusion in our calendar. We’ll need the following:
- Title of activity
- Name of organisation
- Description of activity (100 words max.)
- Date
- Time
- Location
- Fee to attend the event
- Contact person
- Telephone
- Email address for bookings or press
- Website
For materials and information on the campaign across Europe, visit United’s website, www.unitedagainstracism.org
The Irish Network Against Racism is a national network and the Irish Coordination for the European Network Against Racism.
Preamble
The Anti Racism Election Protocol has played an important role since 2001[1] in ensuring that elections have been conducted in such a way that they do not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of ‘race’, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religious belief and membership of the Traveller Community. Political parties that have already endorsed the protocol include:
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party, Labour Party, Sinn Féin, Socialist Party, Workers’ Party, Libertas, People before Profit.
The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Ireland is inviting individual candidates to demonstrate their commitment to anti-racism by signing the declaration as an indication of their own personal support and endorsement of the protocol.
Declaration of Intent by political candidates
I as a candidate in the 2011 elections agree:
- To send a consistent and clear message to my constituents that I reject racism.
- To condemn any campaign materials or statements that may incite hatred or express prejudice on the grounds of ‘race’, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religious belief and membership of the Traveller Community[2]
- To guarantee that when engaging in on-going debate in relation to groups which are the potential targets of racism, such as asylum seekers, refugees, migrant workers and Travellers, my contribution to such debate is conducted in a responsible way and with respect to the dignity and rights of minority ethnic groups.
- To use appropriate and inclusive language and words when referring to people of different ethnic backgrounds, in order to avoid creating prejudice or confusion.
- To inform all my political campaigners about the intent and contents of this Protocol.
Signed:
Date:
Party:
For further information on the Anti Racism Election Protocol, please contact ENAR Ireland, 55 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1. EnarIreland@gmail.com www.enarireland.org Tel. 01 8897110
Anti Racism Political Protocol
[1] The protocol was originally developed in 2001 by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) in partnership with all political parties, see: www.nccri.ie
[2] These are the relevant categories defined in the Equal Status Act (2000) and the Employment Equality Act (1998).
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