Reports of racist incidents indicate the urgent need for action by Government on racially motivated crimes, says the Irish Network Against Racism (Inar).
As Government representatives met in New York last week to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the World Conference Against Racism, the organisation says many of the commitments made towards protecting ethnic minorities in Ireland from racist crime have not been met.
Two thirds of the incidents reported to the network – formerly Enar Ireland – involve racist violence and crime, but Ireland “still struggles to monitor racist incidents and legal reform has not kept up with the changes in Irish society”, it says.
“It is very worrying to see that people cannot feel safe even at home,” says Inar national co-ordinator Catherine Lynch. “A number of the incidents reported to us took place just outside the person’s house or on the walk home.
“Public transport is also an area where we see racist incidents, with taxi drivers and bus drivers alike being the targets of racist abuse.”
Under-reporting is a worldwide issue, acknowledges Inar, which also says that just one in six people who come to them has reported racist incidents to gardaí.
The network says it is working with NGOs and statutory bodies to try to ensure effective monitoring of racist incidents, but adds that this requires commitment from Government, particularly in terms of legislation.
Lynch adds: “Leaders need to send out the message to people that racism shall not be tolerated. Penalties need to reflect the racist motivation of a crime.
“A racist incident impacts on the individual and on the whole community. Striking at the core of a person’s identity; it is an attack on who you are.”
