The Sligo Family Resource Centre has launched its Racist Incident Referral and Support Services Project, an initiative hailed as unique to Co Sligo.
“There can’t be a peaceful and harmonious community if everyone is not welcomed and valued regardless of skin colour, ethnic origin, religious beliefs or accent,” said project co-ordinator Deo Ladislas Ndaken-gerwa.
“So fighting racism and sectarianism should be everyone’s duty, those experiencing it and witnessing it alike.”
Explaining how the project will work, Ndakengerwa said: “We aim to establish a third-party computerised database, which will record all racial and sectarian incidents, and to provide support and referrals to people experiencing or witnessing racism and sectarianism in Co Sligo.”
The project has been funded by the PEACE III Programme through the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Sligo County Council on behalf of the Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee.
By the end of November this year, Ndakengerwa said an inter-agency group would be formed with members drawn from ethnic minority communities, An Garda Síochána, social authorities, sporting bodies, Government departments, social partners and broader civil society, including cultural groups and particular groups such as asylum seekers and refugees living in Sligo. The group will be “fully empowered to deal with racist and sectarian incidents including helping in reporting, supporting and referring cases to appropriate statutory services”.
It’s expected that the information and trends generated from annual analysis of database figures will be used for further advocacy work and policy change at county council level.
