Multi-party litigation ‘should form part’ of anti-racism action plan

Sinéad Gibney

The human rights watchdog said multi-party litigation would allow victims of rights violations and discrimination to collectively seek redress and compensation.

The Commission made over 130 recommendations for State action in a new 90-page report which sets out what needs to be done in areas such as policing, education, media, politics, employment and healthcare.

It includes a call for the extension of civil legal aid to areas of law that are particularly relevant to Travellers, ethnic minorities and other low-income groups, and raises concerns about “the speed at which eviction proceedings are disposed of before the courts and the disproportionate impact this can have on Travellers”.

On policing, it urges the government to address existing negative attitudes amongst gardaí towards minority ethnic groups and set out measures to address racial profiling, including reports from young minority ethnic people.

The government’s anti-racism committee, which will hear from the Commission in person next week, has been charged with developing a national action plan against racism by the end of the year.

Sinéad Gibney, chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, said: “Ireland’s national action plan against racism is an opportunity to focus our national will and energy towards ending racial discrimination and disadvantage, so that we can each benefit from the equal involvement of all.

“To be effective it will need to be structured to include clear targets, indicators, outcomes, timeframes and a budget line. Monitoring the delivery of the national action plan against racism must include participation of the people affected, and there should be an independent evaluation of both the process and outcomes of the plan, based on human rights and equality principles.

“We see a need for prioritisation of policing and law enforcement in the content of Ireland’s national action plan against racism, as has been done in the European Anti-Racism Action Plan.

“Racial discrimination leaves a trail of human destruction for those targeted, which can lead to substance abuse, depression, thoughts of suicide, and people cutting themselves off from public services. The Commission has heard directly how mental health problems among ethnic minority children and young people are ‘not taken seriously enough’.”