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Chapter 2: Northern Ireland Research Findings 38_39
Chapter 2:
Northern Ireland
Research Findings
64_Lord Rooker’s
Ministerial Address at the
conference, delivered by
Ken Fraser, Racial Equality
Unit, Office of First Minister
and Deputy First Minister in
Northern Ireland.
65_Macpherson, W. (1999)
The Stephen Lawrence
Inquiry. Report of an Inquiry
by Sir William Macpherson
of Cluny. Cm 4262-1,
HMSO.
66_McGill, P and Oliver,
Q. (2002) A wake-up call
on race. Implications of
the Macpherson Report
for Institutional Racism in
Northern Ireland. Equality
Commission for Northern
Ireland.
67_OFMDFM (2005)
A Racial Equality Strategy
for Northern Ireland
2005–10.
68_Ibid, p.5.
Author: Dr Jennifer Hamilton
With: Jennifer Betts and Dr Neil Jarman
Institute for Conflict Research (ICR)
Introduction
“ Northern Ireland is in many respects a latecomer to the cause
of racial equality and good race relations. We need to catch up,
and we need to catch up quickly.” 64
In 1999 Lord Macpherson, as part of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, defined
institutional racism as:
“ The collective failure of an organisation to provide an
appropriate and professional service to people because
of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or
detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount
to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance,
thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage
minority ethnic people.” 65
McGill and Oliver 66 looked at the implications of the Stephen Lawrence Report
for Northern Ireland and concluded that the first step in Northern Ireland is for
leaders in all sectors, whether MPs and MLAs, top Civil Servants, Councillors,
company Directors, trade union officials or members and trustees of voluntary
committees to recognise the importance of race as an issue.
Key Policies
Within the Northern Ireland context, legislation and policies have been developed
in regard to race relations. The most recent document has been the Racial
Equality Strategy 67 published by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First
Minister in 2005. The strategy establishes a framework:
-
-
-
To tackle racial inequalities in Northern Ireland and to open up opportunity
for all
To eradicate racism and hate crime
Together with A Shared Future, to initiate actions to promote good race
relations. 68