A special supplement in association with the Irish Network Against Racism
Racist crime is a reality in Irish society and its effects are felt daily, impacting not only on the individual but also on the community and society as a whole, according to the Irish Network Against Racism (Enar Ireland).
Racist crime is not a crime like any other crime, and the impact is different as well, the network insists, noting that the occurrence of racist incidents instils fear in people for their personal safety.
It also cites research based on British Hate Crime Survey data which concludes that crimes with a racist motivation have a deeper impact – including psychologically – on the victim.
Reflecting on the racist incidents reported to the Irish Network Against Racism, its director Catherine Lynch said: “The majority of racist incidents reported to us involve racist crime or violence. It is very worrying to see that people cannot feel safe even at home. 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. A seemingly minor incident can escalate into a very serious one.
She continued: “We need to be vigilant and monitor all types of incident. 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 – and you cannot change who you are.”
The network maintains that racism requires specific attention in this time of recession, noting that history has demonstrated the link between economic downturn and an upturn in hate crime – a link it says is revealing itself once again.
Moreover, it is a “tragic irony” that racism has a further negative impact on the economy and society as a whole when individuals whose right to earn a living is threatened by racism, according to the network.
Racism, it claims, deters investment as safety is a key factor for companies – and also means we cannot benefit from the talents of discriminated groups.
We should not underestimate the impact of discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere, the network adds, emphasising that the “ability to earn a decent living is of paramount importance and one of the single most important factors in ensuring health and well-being”.
It cites reports from the Equality Authority and the ESRI that reveal “worrying levels” of discrimination, showing that immigrants “did not fare as well as Irish nationals” in the Irish labour market, with the results varying according to nationality and ethnicity.
The research shows that black African, ethnic minority EU and EU new member State (NMS) groups fare worse than other national ethnic groups in terms of both objective labour market outcomes (such as employment and unemployment) and in their experience of discrimination. Black Africans fared the worst across the board, it adds.
While the focus on the economy in more recent times has arguably “cut racism out of the picture”, the network says, it is precisely because of the importance of the economy that racism awareness and anti-racism initiatives should be to the fore.
“Racism simply is a price too high for any of us to pay,” the network says.
