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ISSN 1393-1024
Vol. 2 Issue 1 May 2005
PAVEE POINT Quarterly Newsletter
CERD Hearing
NAPS
European Roma Traveller Forum
International Edition

Contents
Editorial 2
CERD 3
Update on
FCPNM Convention 6
CEDAW 7
COHRE 10
NAPS 10
Equal Transnational 11
What is the TRAILER project 12
Pavee Point Tsunami Relief 12
National Action Plan
Against Racism 13
Healthy minds Healthy lives! 15
Dáil na nÓg 15
Kankuamo Visit Pavee Point 16
International Women’s Day 17
Roma Traveller Forum 18
International Cultural Seminar 19
Pavee News and Resources
J.M.Synge Plays 20
Website Launch 20
Pavee Point Shadow Report 20
Cover Photo:
Sharing Experiences,Travellers and the
Kankuamo meet in PAVEE POINT
All photographs by Derek Speirs
Design and Layout by Metaphor
Published by
PAVEE POINT Travellers’ Centre
46 North Great Charles Street
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 878 0255
Email: pavee@iol.ie
Website: www.paveepoint.ie
Martin Collins, Ronnie Fay Pavee Point and Phil Mullen, David Joyce ITM
at UN CERD Hearing Geneva.
Editorial
As Pavee Point celebrates its 20th
Anniversary, the UN International
CERD Committee has called on the
Irish Government to recognise
Travellers as a minority ethnic group.
The recognition of Travellers as a
In this issue we report back from the
CERD hearings in Geneva and explore
other international developments, the
European Roma Traveller Forum, the UN
Convention for the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women, the
Framework Convention for the Protection
of National Minorities, COHRE,TRAILER,
NAPS Incl among others.We are also
looking at developments at home such as
the National Action Plan Against Racism
and how they will impact on Travellers and
Traveller organisations.
On the 28th of April the European
Parliament adopted a resolution on the
situation of Roma in the European Union.
(At a European level Roma includes
Travellers and Gypsies).The resolution,
which stresses the rampant anti-Gypsism,
social exclusion of Roma and the limited
recognition of the Romani Holocaust, is a
huge step towards the integration of 7 to
9 million Roma in Europe and was
adopted by a large majority. (497 MEPs).
The latest declarations of Commissioner
Spidla as well as of President Barroso both
minority ethnic group has been core
to the work of Pavee Point since 1985.
This recognition has implications for
policy and practice and for Travellers
status within wider Irish society.
make it clear that social inclusion of Roma
is one of the main European priorities.
Representation of Roma within European
institutions, a focus on employment and
capacitating human resources within Roma
communities as well as concrete measures
to combat widespread anti-Gypsyism, to
complement the anti-discrimination
legislation of the European Commission, are
the most important issues in the near
future.
There is recognition that Travellers and
Roma are the most despised group in
Europe, and the largest ethnic minority
group in Europe.There is recognition that
there is need for initiatives to integrate
Roma and Travellers into the EU community
and member states. International
conventions set international standards and
frameworks for protection and good
practice and are particularly relevant to
minority groups which should be reflected
in policy and practice at a national level.
Ronnie Fay
Director
2
Celebrating 20 Years Promoting Travellers Human Rights

CERD
Background to
CERD Process
Ireland ratified the United Nations
Convention for the Elimination of all Forms
of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in
December 2000 and it entered into force in
January 2001.A requirement of ratification is
the submission of country reports to the
International Committee for the Elimination
of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
every 2 years after submission of the First
Report which is due within a year of
ratification. Ireland was late with our first
report under CERD which was due in 2002
and therefore submitted a joint First and
Second Report on CERD.This was submitted
to the ICERD in Geneva in early 2004.
Martin Collins launches the Pavee Point Shadow Report to CERD.
The CERD Convention affords protection
against discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent or
national or ethnic origin. It potentially affords added protection
to individuals discriminated on these grounds however national
remedies must be exhausted first.
As this was the first country report on Ireland under CERD
the report contained a lot of background and contextual
information on Ireland including information on legislative,
judicial and administrative measures which have been
undertaken by the State to fulfil their CERD obligations.
Demographic details and an overview of migration issues and
institutions established within the country to combat
discrimination and address racism were highlighted.As it is a
Government Report it also tends to present the country in a
positive light and therefore highlights all the things being done
and the policies developed to address the issues related to
CERD. Non-governmental organisations are also encouraged to
engage with these processes and furnish “Shadow Reports” to
the ICERD which usually present a more accurate picture of
reality on the ground. Pavee Point published our report Irish
Travellers Shadow Report in early February to coincide with
the launch of the Decade for Roma Inclusion.
A country Rapporteur is appointed to raise ICERD issues of
concern to the Government under consideration.An Austrian,
Mr. Kurt Herndl was the Rapporteur on Ireland. In advance of
the Geneva Hearing he furnished a list of concerns to the Irish
Government and they have an opportunity in advance to
address the issues raised. A follow up Rapporteur has also
been appointed to ensure progress on the issues raised,
Mr. Kjaerum, the Director of the Danish Human Rights
Commission, has been appointed to this position.
Failure to Recognise Travellers as a Minority
Ethnic Group
The Irish CERD report was particularly significant for Travellers
because for the first time the State said “The Government’s view is
that Travellers do not constitute a distinct ethnic group from the
population as a whole in terms of race, colour, descent or national or
ethnic origin.” (p.13). It relegated coverage of Traveller issues to an
Appendix in the Report on Ireland.As Pavee Point state in our
Irish Travellers Shadow Report “The relegation of Irish Travellers
to the Appendix at the end of Ireland’s CERD Report provides a
telling metaphor of the marginalised position of Irish Travellers in
public policy in particular and Irish society in general”.
Pavee Point contends that the Irish Government’s refusal to
acknowledge Travellers as an ethnic group in the CERD Report
is both anachronistic and demeaning and has profound
implications for policy in general and the treatment of Traveller
issues in the CERD Report in particular.The refusal reveals the
persistence of an assimilationist mindset that Traveller
organisations had previously hoped had been consigned to
history by the publication of the progressive Government
‘Report on the Task Force on the Travelling Community’ in
1995. Pavee Point further contends that one of the implications
for policy is that Travellers are not recognised as experiencing
racism/racial discrimination but some other, unspecified form of
discrimination that is only experienced by Travellers.
A key question we posed to the ICERD was:
Why Qdoes the Irish Government persist in rejecting
or ‘remaining neutral’ on the issue of recognising
Travellers as an ethnic group and why does the
Irish Government fail to acknowledge that
Travellers experience racism/racial discrimination
May 2005
3

The Government’s position, and the aggressive tone on the nonrecognition
of Travellers as an ethnic group in the report is
considered demeaning and offensive by Pavee Point and other
Traveller organisations.The Government’s position on Traveller
ethnicity has also been criticised by all of the specialised and
expert bodies in this area, including the Irish Human Rights
Commission, the Equality Authority and the National Consultative
Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI).
Pavee Point contends that the Government’s persistence in not
recognising Travellers as an ethnic group betrays a mindset and
policy project that continues to be assimilationist. In short if
they are not a distinct community then ipso facto they should
be treated the same as the general population and
incorporated into the general Irish population and they and
their needs will become invisible.This ‘assimilationist project’
has been pursued by the State unsuccessfully for at least 45
years (since the Commission on Itinerancy, 1960–63).
Pavee Point welcomes the fact that at the hearing in Geneva
nearly every ICERD expert member who spoke at the hearing
on Ireland challenged the government on their non-recognition
of Travellers as a minority ethnic group. Some pointed out that
even if Travellers were not recognised under the CERD on the
ethnicity ground they certainly qualified on the grounds of
descent i.e. you have to be born a Traveller , you cannot choose
to become one! We particularly welcome the fact that the
leader of the Irish delegation, Minister Frank Fahey, stated that
the Government has an ‘open mind’ on the ethnicity issue.
In advance of the hearing in Geneva Mr. Kurt Herndl raised
many of the issues we had addressed in our Shadow Report
and posed the following questions to the Government:
● Under Article 1 of CERD please indicate whether there is
any legal definition of “ethnic” group. Please explain the
reasons for rejecting Travellers’ claim to be considered an
ethnic group
● Under Article 5 how do Travellers and other minority
groups participate in the development and implementation
of programmes targeted for their benefit
● Please provide information on how Travellers’ nomadic
tradition has been taken into account in the National
Strategy for Traveller Accommodation, and how this has
been reflected in practice, taking also into consideration the
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 which makes
trespassing a criminal offence
● What has been the impact of the National Anti Poverty
Strategy (NAPS) on the situation of Travellers How many
of the planned targets have been achieved In light of the
high incidence of unemployment among Travellers, please
provide information on measures taken to promote
employment among this group.Are any concrete measures
being contemplated with a view to mitigating the decline of
traditional areas of Traveller economy
● What has been the impact of the Traveller Health Strategy
Please provide more detailed information on the specific
measures adopted to implement this strategy.According to
●
some information before the Committee, some general
practitioners refuse to treat Travellers. Has any action been
taken by the State party in this regard
Please provide updated information on Traveller education
concerning, in particular, the number of Traveller students
completing the second-level and accessing third-level education.
Please also indicate any measures adopted to enhance access to
second and third-level education for Travellers.
Martin Collins, Ronnie Fay and Ion Zatreanu (Roma Support Group).
●
Considering that the Equality Tribunal provided “free,
independent and effective means of redress”, please indicate
the reasons for transferring the jurisdiction from the
Equality Tribunal to district courts regarding discrimination
cases involving licensed premises. Please provide
information on the number of racial discrimination cases
brought before district courts.
Geneva Hearing
The actual hearing was held in Geneva on March 2–3.
Seventeen civil servants comprised the Irish delegation to
Geneva for the hearing on the First and Second Reports under
CERD led by the Minister for Equality Mr. Frank Fahey.
Representatives from the various government Departments as
well as the Attorney General’s Office, the Gardaí and the
Central Statistics Office were in attendance.The Human Rights
Commission and the National Consultative Committee on
Racism and Interculturalism were also represented as
independent experts.A range of NGO’s were present including
the Irish Traveller Movement.
Pavee Point welcomes the fact that at the hearing the majority
of the CERD experts challenged the Irish Government position
on the rejection of Travellers ethnicity.They highlighted the fact
that Travellers were covered by CERD on the basis of selfidentification
and also by descent.The resistance of the State to
this recognition was questioned when, both within Ireland, and
certainly from afar, it was seen as the “right thing to do both
legally and morally”.The government was challenged to explain
how it defined an ethnic group. In Ireland there is no legal
definition of what constitutes an ethnic group and despite
having no criteria for an ethnic group they have decided that
Irish Travellers are not one! They also say that Travellers are
4

protected under Equality Legislation and therefore recognition
as an ethnic group would make no difference.We would
contend that this misses the point.The reality is the
government recognise Travellers as a social group and as “an
indigenous Irish community with a shared history of a nomadic
way of life and cultural identity” (p.90 Dept. Justice, Equality and
Law Reform CERD Report) These are 2 key aspects of
ethnicity and therefore it would not be a huge step for the
government to afford recognition to Travellers ethnicity.
Recognising Travellers as a minority ethnic group would have a
significant impact at both a symbolic and policy level.
CERD Concluding Observations
The Concluding Observations summarize the proceedings and
offer suggestions and recommendations.They are issued as public
documents and are included in the annual report to the General
Assembly of the United Nations.They will also act as the baseline
for the next Irish CERD Report and Hearing, due in 2 years time.
In relation to the Irish CERD Hearing the following Concluding
Observations were made in relation to Travellers:
Recalling its General Recommendation VIII on the principle of
self-identification, the Committee expresses concern at the
State party’s position with regard to the recognition of
Travellers as an ethnic group.The Committee is of the view
that the recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group has
important implications under the Convention. (article 1 and 5)
Welcoming the open position of the
State party in this respect, the Committee
encourages the State party to work more
concretely towards recognizing the
Traveller community as an ethnic group.
While noting the efforts made so far by the State party with
regard to the situation of members of the Traveller community
in the field of health, housing, employment and education, the
Committee remains concerned about the effectiveness of
policies and measures in these areas. (article 5(e))
The Committee recommends to the State party
that it intensify its efforts to fully implement the
recommendations of the Task Force on the Traveller
community, and that all necessary measures be
urgently taken to improve access by Travellers to all
levels of education, their employment rates as well
as their access to health services and to
accommodation suitable to their lifestyle.
The Committee notes that members of the Traveller
community are not adequately represented in the State party’s
political institutions and do not effectively participate in the
conduct of public affairs. (article 5(c))
The Committee invites the State party to consider
adopting affirmative action programmes to
improve the political representation of Travellers,
particularly at the level of Dáil Éireann 1 and/or
Seanad Éireann 2 .
The Committee is particularly concerned about the situation faced
by women belonging to vulnerable groups and at the instances of
multiple discrimination they may be subject to. (article 5)
The Committee, recalling its General
Recommendation XXV, encourages the State
party to take measures with regard to the
special needs of women belonging to minority
and other vulnerable groups, in particular female
Travellers, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
(Ref: CERD/C/IRL/CO/2, 10 March 2005)
Conclusions
Minister Fahey stated that the Government is open on the issue of
Traveller ethnicity and recognition as a minority ethnic group.We
need to exploit this ‘openness’ and follow through on this work.
The work undertaken on CERD has contributed significantly to the
debate on Traveller ethnicity.The challenge is to ensure this is
followed through wherever the opportunity presents itself.Work
needs to be undertaken with Travellers and Traveller organisations
on the issue of Traveller ethnicity as the debate re-emerges into the
public domain to ensure an understanding of ethnicity and its
impact on policy is understood.Work needs to be undertaken with
the follow-up Rapporteur on Ireland to ensure that the pressure is
kept on the government on this issue.
Pavee Point were very disappointed that the State
misrepresented Traveller organisations’ position on the status
of Travellers as a minority ethnic group at the Hearing in
Geneva by stating that Traveller organisations were part of the
Task Force on Travellers and that this document hadn’t
recommended Travellers be recognised as such.The reality is
we were in a minority on the Task Force and were out voted
by the statutory and political representatives on the issue. Such
misrepresentation raises serious issues in the context of the
Traveller sectoral committees (Accommodation, Health and
Education) and the Monitoring Committee and it may mean
minority reports will have to be sought in the future.
We welcome the fact that in Geneva the government
announced it was allocating a Traveller seat on the Steering
Committee of the National Action Plan Against Racism. It is
important that Travellers issues are raised wherever issues of
racism are being addressed.
1 The Lower House of Parliament.
2 The Upper House of Parliament (Senate).
■
May 2005
5

What is
the
FCPNM
On the 1st of February 1995 the Council of Europe opened
up the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities for signature by member States.
The Irish Government signed up to the FCPNM at this time.
One to watch
Protocol 12 to the European Convention
on Human Rights focuses on the issue of
discrimination. Ireland has signed up to it
but has not ratified it: which means it has
no application within Ireland at present.
At the meeting in Dublin Castle the
Department of Justice, Equality and Law
Reform noted that a public consultation
process will commence on this protocol
before the end of 2005. He also said that
this Protocol is not as tight as the EU
Directives and raised concerns about
the potential incompatibility of the
definition of discriminations between
these different European instruments. It
will be important that during the
consultation process the groups affected
by discrimination have good information
and are in a position to engage in a
constructive debate on this issue.
There are 32 Articles covering the context
in which the FCPNM applies to specific
issues member States should apply
themselves to addressing. For example,
Article 4 covers equality and Article 5 seeks
to ensure that identity is supported and
integration does not become assimilation.
The Convention does not include a
definition of a national minority. It appears
given the diversity across Europe and the
underlying historical and political
dynamics that such a definition is unlikely.
In the course if its work the Advisory
Committee uses the country’s own
understanding as a starting point and then
compares it with the expectations of the
FCPNM and in particular challenges what
it sees as arbitrary distinctions.
In Ireland’s first report under this
Convention no national minority was
identified.Yet the report went into depth
on Travellers socio-economic status and
the work that has been undertaken to
address Travellers exclusion from
mainstream society.
What’s the process
After a country submits its report to the
Council of Europe:
● the Advisory Committee examines
the report,
● usually visits the country concerned,
●
●
●
submits its recommendations on its
findings,
to which the State responds and
on which all the actors concerned
should have an opportunity to discuss
before the reporting cycle is completed.
At a recent meeting in Dublin Castle on the
FCPNM the first reporting cycle on Ireland
was deemed to be complete.
What did the Advisory
Committee (AC) raise
The Committee raised questions on a
range of Traveller issues including:
● Health: what was the progress on the
All Ireland Traveller Health Study
● Accommodation: the local authorities
appear to be struggling to meet their
own targets.The situation appears to
have been compounded by the
criminalisation of trespass;
● Education: early school leaving
continues to be a big issue;
● Employment: given the levels of
employment in Ireland the AC
queried the rate of long-term
unemployment amongst Travellers;
and
● Discrimination: the AC sought an
up-date on the impact of moving
cases of discrimination against the
licensing trade to the District Courts.
The Committee was struck by the fact
that the Irish Government refuse to
recognise Travellers as either a National
Minority or a Minority Ethnic Group yet
appear to offer Travellers the protection of
both the FCPNM and the UN Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination. From a Traveller
perspective it would be preferable if the
Irish Government formally recognised
Travellers status and so truly validated
Travellers culture and identity.
How did the
Government respond
In response to these issues the
Government noted that significant
improvement in accommodation provision
has been secured. However,Traveller
organisations have noted that some of the
‘improvements’ are a result of families
doubling up. In practice local authorities are
expected to use the Housing Acts to evict
people rather than 1994 Public Order Act
(the criminalisation of trespass though
contained in a ’02 Housing Act actually
changed section 19 of the ‘94 POA). Such a
position begs the question: why was
trespass criminalised in the first place
The Traveller Education Strategy is being
developed at present and it should identify
ways of addressing early school leaving.
6

Convention on the Elimination
of all Forms of Discrimation
Against Women (CEDAW)
Introduction
In 2004, Pavee Point, through the Women’s Sub-group, undertook
a process to write a Shadow Report in relation to Ireland’s
Combined Fourth and Fifth Reports, under the Convention on
the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW).The Shadow Report was submitted to the United
Nations in New York, in January 2005.
The report provides the CEDAW committee with an overview
of Traveller women’s human rights in Ireland and comments
under the following articles; Definition of and Policies Against
Discrimination, Special Measures, Education, Employment,
Family Benefits and Bank Loans and Violence Against Women.
Pavee Points’ Shadow Report found that
in the time that has passed since the
Irish Government submitted its last report
there has been some progress on Traveller
women’s issues and Traveller issues in
general, however, we would assert that
the government has ‘fallen down’ in many
areas and failed to address Traveller
issues in a comprehensive way.
Therefore, Pavee Point looks forward to the findings of the
CEDAW expert committee, in relation to the Irish
Government’s human rights record for Traveller women, when
they met to consider both government and NGO CEDAW
reports in July 2005.
Content of the Report
Traveller Women
Intersection of Ethnicity and Gender
We note with regret that the scope of the articles of CEDAW do
not allow space to address issues of racism and discrimination that
may be experienced by women from minority ethnic groups. In
recognising that Women’s rights are Human Rights, Pavee Point
would assert that Traveller women’s rights are ‘non divisible’ so
giving rights to Travellers as women and not as Travellers is not
sufficient. For Traveller women their identity is intertwined with
their gender and until Traveller rights are fully acknowledged and
enshrined in Irish law and policies it not enough to address gender
issues in an isolated manner.
➛
The employment statistics presented at the
meeting were queried as they appeared to
under-count Travellers unemployment.The
under use of the Employment Equality Act
(EEA) 1998 was raised by the Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform
representative. On page 12 of this newsletter
is a description of a transnational project
Pavee Point are involved in which is focusing
on the EEA and how legislation and positive
action could be used to address Travellers
exclusion from the labour market.
The issue of health is seen as the one
where the most progress has been made
on the recommendations contained in
the Task Force Report. It has been noted
by Traveller representatives, although a
lot of work has been done around the
country with Travellers groups on the All
Ireland Health study, it is not yet ready
to roll as the tendering document has
not been completed by the Department
of Health and Children.
Looking to the future
A more open and inclusive process was
raised at the meeting in Dublin Castle.
The Council of Europe would prefer
such an approach in the next round.The
Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to
make connections with all of the
stakeholders but noted that they did not
yet know the procedures for the second
reporting cycle. Future work should
build on the work to-date.
■
May 2005
7

8
CEDAW
Key Issues Affecting Traveller Women
Overall,Traveller women’s day to day lives have not changed
significantly since the last time the Irish Government reported
to the CEDAW committee
● Traveller women face health inequalities which result in
Traveller women living approximately 12 years less than
other Irish women
● Educational attainment for Traveller women is significantly
below that of settled women; there are only 16 Travellers
currently in third level education
● Access and participation in employment is still something
that for the most part is outside the reach of Traveller
women due to constant discrimination
In order to eliminate discrimination and to address the
marginalisation experienced by Traveller women in their day to
day life, effective, appropriate and meaningful programmes,
policies and strategies must be set in place by the Irish
Government.
Underpinning the government’s approach should be the
recognition of Traveller ethnicity, disaggregated data collection
and equality proofing and acknowledgment of Traveller
women’s right to representation.
Recognising Traveller Ethnicity
Currently the Irish Government has stated that Travellers do
not constitute a Minority Ethnic Group under the transposed
UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
(CERD).This non recognition of Traveller identity has
ramifications for the status of Travellers and Traveller women in
Ireland across all the articles contained within CEDAW.
Key Recommendations
Discrimination
●
●
Articles 1&2
Pavee Point would recommend that the Irish Government
should immediately recognise Travellers as a minority ethnic
group
That the protections afforded under CERD for other groups
should extend to Travellers.This would ensure that
government policies, anti racism initiatives and the
protection of rights for Travellers would be enshrined and
therefore would meet the needs of Travellers, including
Traveller women in a valid and meaningful way
Special Measures
Article 3
Task Force and Monitoring Committee
●
The establishment of a statutory Traveller Agency to monitor,
coordinate and where appropriate, enforce the
recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling
Community.The Traveller Agency would be allocated
sufficient resources and powers to achieve its goals
Disaggregated Data Collection
and Equality Proofing
Currently in Ireland the collection of disaggregated data on
minority ethnic women is not prioritised, however, in order to
develop policies that have a real impact on Traveller women
this information needs to be collected and collated in order to:
● Plan Traveller specific policies for Traveller women
● To equality proof mainstream policies before they are
developed and;
● To be able to assess the access, participation and outcomes
from all policies developed that relate to women.
● Traveller women are a separate section in the Monitoring
Committee’s work.We would assert that all the special
measures identified within the Task Force Report have a
gender perspective and all reports assess the impact of
sectoral strategies on Traveller women and not just the
Traveller Community in general
Traveller Accommodation
● Improving the rate of accommodation provision within the
context of new local authority accommodation plans to
cover 2005–8
● The establishment of a statutory Traveller Agency with
powers to approve and enforce local authority 5 year
Traveller accommodation plans
Traveller Health
● It is inefficient and inaccurate for Government and Traveller
groups alike to assess the health needs of Travellers on the
basis of 1987 figures therefore the All Ireland Traveller Health
Needs Assessment Study (AITHS) needs to be resourced
and completed

Tools for Equality and
Gender Proofing
Disaggregated data must include a gender perspective and the
experience of Traveller women. Gender proofing needs to have
Traveller proofing to encapsulate both sexism and racism and be
able to assess their impact on Traveller women.As a result of
developing tools for gender proofing and equality proofing in an
anti racist and human rights framework, the needs of Traveller
women will be addressed in a coherent and planned way.
Mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation as well as target
setting need to have cross cutting elements to them. Ethnic
identifier questions should be mainstreamed in all areas of
service provision, to capture the needs of service users while
developing culturally appropriate service delivery but also to
ensure Traveller women’s participation in formal employment.
Traveller Women’s Right to Representation
The right to representation on governmental and administrative
structures is critical in the development of policy for Traveller
women.We note that the Irish Government cite Traveller
representation within the article on Special Measures but not
specifically Traveller women and within all the other articles that
we discuss in the main body of the report there are structures set
up to represent the views of women but not Traveller women.
Pavee Point would see the representation of Traveller women
on all structures that affect women in Ireland as being vital in
resourcing, supporting and validating the voice of the Traveller
woman and ensuring it is heard.
Implications for Policy Development
The Irish Government has developed sectoral policies on
Travellers which implicitly name Traveller identity and status,
however explicitly this is not the case.This position has
implications for policy development in so far as mainstream
policy often does not reflect the needs of Traveller women as
they are not a recognised minority ethnic group.
This in turn leads to policies that often are not reflective of
Traveller women’s needs and in many cases dual policy positions
that conflict and are juxtaposed in their analysis of Traveller
women’s needs.The status of minority ethnic group would ensure
that Traveller women are named and included in all government
policy in a targeted way and would ensure that all policy areas in
terms of social, economic, political and cultural rights are
addressed in a coherent manner with the recognition of ethnicity.
In conclusion
In order to challenge internal barriers within the community
Traveller women need a range of structural measures that
involve both a targeted and mainstream approach to them.
These would close some of the gaps in terms of educational
opportunities while creating better outcomes in the areas of
health and employment.
This in turn will ensure that policies developed will be
culturally appropriate; resources are allocated to where the
need exists; that the data generated is both qualitative and
quantitative and is used in a coherent and sensitive manner and
reflects Traveller ethnicity.
Some Key Recommendations from Pavee Point’s Shadow
Report under CEDAW
●
●
The Community Health Worker role
should be strengthened through the
establishment of a well funded and
resourced national accredited training
and employment programme
To implement outstanding recommendations
stated in the Health Strategy
relating to Traveller women
Education
●
●
Article 10
A root and branch review takes place
that examines the outcomes from
investment in education for Travellers
and Traveller women
It is imperative that Traveller women
be given roles as advocates for their
community as Community Education
Workers
Employment
●
●
Article 11
The low level of educational
attainment amongst Traveller women
is a huge barrier when accessing
employment, particularly low levels of
literacy.All pre training in active
labour market training needs to
ensure programmes address this issue
Social welfare requirements need to
be addressed in line with the EU
social protection rights, i.e. that all
welfare supplements are poverty
proofed
VAW
General Recommendation
●
●
●
Equality should be named as a key
working principle of the National
Steering Committee (NSC) strategic
plan for 2005-8
Development of an equality proofing
framework to support the
mainstreaming of equality within the
VAW sector should be given priority
within the work–plan of the NSC
over the coming years
Organisations with targeted initiatives
to address existing inequalities
experienced by Traveller women in
relation to violence should continue to
be resourced. CEDAW Report can be
downloaded from www.paveepoint.ie
May 2005
■
9

COHRE consider taking case
against Irish Government
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) is an
international non-governmental organisation mandated to
protect and promote housing rights throughout the world.
COHRE has special consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council of the United Nations (UN).
A fact-finding mission to Ireland was undertaken by COHRE in April 2004 in order to
investigate the housing rights of Travellers.The mission was motivated by reports of
forced evictions and the lack of access to appropriate accommodation for Travellers.
After the completion of the mission, COHRE continued to obtain additional information
from those interviewed.
On the basis of such information, COHRE
believes that the Government of Ireland is
in breach of its obligation under Article
5(e)(iii) of the International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination. State parties are obliged:
[T]o prohibit and to eliminate racial
discrimination in all its forms and to
guarantee the right of everyone, without
distinction as to race, colour, or national
or ethnic origin, to equality before the
law, notably in the enjoyment of the
following rights: … (e) Economic, social
and cultural rights, in particular: (iii) The
right to housing; … ’
Further, Irish law permitting forced evictions
and the consequent actions of government
officials violates a number of other rights set
out in Article 1 and Article 5.These include
the right to freedom of movement and
residence within the border of the State,
the right to own property alone as well as
in association with others and human rights
to work, education and participation in
cultural activities.
COHRE sent a letter to the Government
of Ireland outlining its concerns and copies
to the relevant ministries.While receipt of
letter was acknowledged on 12 November
2004, no response has been received.
COHRE have undertaken a follow up visit
to Ireland to interview and gather
testimonies from Travellers who have been
evicted, threatened with eviction, or
otherwise forced to accept inappropriate
accommodation.Also, others such as
community workers, members of Local
Traveller Accommodation Consultative
Committees, and Traveller organisations
have provided statements to the COHRE
personnel.
COHRE will consider taking a case against
the Irish Government to the European
Committee on Social Rights based in
Strasbourg.The Committee oversees the
European Social Charter (1966 and Revised
versions). From 1999, it has been receiving
collective complaints from international trade
unions and human rights organisations that
have been granted permission by the Council
of Europe to file such complaints. National
organisations can also be accredited at the
discretion of the government.
This presents a valuable opportunity to
take the Irish Government to task, on a
European stage, over its consistent flaunting
of basic human rights for Travellers at the
level of accommodation provision.We hope
to have more details in further newsletters
and publicity material over the coming few
months.
■
NAPS Project
National Anti Poverty Strategy
The Combat Poverty Agency is funding a
programme entitled ‘Supporting Participation
of People living in Poverty in the NAPS’ 2005.
The overall aim of the project Pavee Point
leads under this initiative is:
●
●
●
To create a better understanding of the
NAPS/NAP Incl process within the Traveller
community focusing on the issue of
unemployment;
To give Travellers the opportunity to examine
and identify the role such initiatives could play
in improving their social and economic status;
and,
To create a better understanding within the
system of the impact on Travellers lives of the
exclusion of their identity and culture from
policy making and implementation.
An information leaflet has been produced to inform people of
the project and the key words and ideas that are essential to
rolling out this project.The leaflet is called ‘Cultural Diversity
in Action’.
Two regional workshops will take place in June in Tullamore
and Galway for up to 30 participants each.
These workshops will be followed by a national one for up to
40 participants consisting of Travellers/Traveller organisations
and policy makers/practitioners focusing on the key issues to
be addressed to support cultural diversity in action in the
employment area.The project will be completed by the
production of a policy paper on these issues.
What is NAPS
NAPS stands for the National Anti-Poverty Strategy.The overall
aim of NAPS is ‘to reduce substantially and, ideally, eliminate poverty in
Ireland and to build a socially inclusive society.’ NAPS grew out of
Ireland’s involvement in the United Nations World Summit on
10

Transnational
The Equal Transnational Partnership formed a
partnership with UNISAT the French
National Union for Gypsies and Travellers
which is called the ETAP European Transnational
Anti-Discrimination Project.The aim of the
project is to provide mutual supports for the
work of the national projects and also to
develop strategies and actions to combat
Travellers’ socio-economic exclusion in both
countries, and to build solidarity between
Travellers of Irish and French nationality.This
is to be implemented by the exchange of
learning and potential best practice through a
variety of actions.
French and Irish Travellers at Pavee Point.
In Ireland the Project Development
Workshops were where the learning
from the pilots was fed to the statutory
providers and the key players in service
delivery actions of the projects.The first
workshop in Pavee Point coincided with
the first Transnational meeting and the
presence of the French group gave many
interesting opportunities to exchange
knowledge and opinion. It was also an
opportunity to demonstrate the
differences between the countries’
policies and also some similarities.This
workshop was held before the pilots
started and there were many offers of
interest, support and help from the
service providers.
In France the first event was a study-visit
to Bordeaux which gave members of the
development partnership an opportunity
to see the accommodation issues in that
area and speak to local council officials.
Visits were arranged to markets where
Travellers traded and there was a
presentation from Christophe Hoffman –
a basket-maker who had been assisted by
the local enterprise development
programme to formalise his business.The
French model of development of microenterprises
which was developed for the
majority population had proved very
suitable to be used by Travellers.The
French system does not permit the
creation of sectoral differences as all
citizens are presumed to be equal.
The exchange of information around
certification and professional training
took place at the formal meetings of the
partnership. One of the tasks of the
Transnational Cooperation agreement
was to develop a quality mark or logo
which could be used to identify Traveller
goods and services.This generated a huge
amount of debate not only amongst the
respective DP’s but also among Travellers
in both countries. In order to facilitate
this debate workshops were held in
Glencree Centre for Reconciliation on
the subject of identity which men from
all three pilots attended.A document has
been produced on the subject of the
deliberations.
■
Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995 and was first
produced in 1997. In 2002 the strategy was revised and new targets
were set for the five year term (2002–2007).
Specific targets were set for Travellers in the areas of life
expectancy, education and accommodation. Interestingly none
were set for Travellers employment, the focus of this project.
However targets were set for long-term unemployment and
unemployment:
● To eliminate long term unemployment as soon as
circumstances permit but in any event not later
than 2007;
● To reduce the level of unemployment experienced
by vulnerable groups towards the national average by 2007.
Given the rise in employment in Ireland during the ‘lifetime’ of
the NAPS such a target appears reasonable at first glance.
However, when the figures for Travellers unemployment are
compared with the overall national levels the extent of the
challenge becomes apparent. According to the 2002 Census
73% of Traveller men are unemployed in comparison to 9% of
settled men; while 62% of Traveller women are unemployed in
comparison to 8% of settled women.
What is NAP Incl
NAP Incl is the shorthand for the National Action Plan Against
Poverty and Social Exclusion.This is a European programme
which aims to realise an objective set within a very important
European document called the ‘Lisbon Agenda’.This objective
aims ‘to make a decisive impact on poverty’ by 2010.
Basically in Ireland NAP Incl includes NAPS plus some new
targets set since 2002. For example, targets around Travellers
health are included in the current plan covering the period
2003–2005.This period has been extended to 2006 to ensure
that all 25 countries within the EU are devising their new plans
within the same time period.
NAP Incl also includes a ‘policy task’ with regard to Travellers
that is very relevant to this project:
●
‘to further develop policies with the necessary supports to enable
Travellers achieve greater integration while respecting their
distinctive way of life’.
This project is timely as a new round of consultation with
regard to NAP Incl will take place over the next year and the
National Action Plan Against Racism has been launched which is
titled ‘Planning for Diversity’.
■
May 2005
11

What is the TRAILER project
12
The Traveller & Roma Action for Implementation of Legal
& Equality Rights (TRAILER) Project aims to strengthen
the implementation of anti-discrimination law to combat
discrimination against Roma and Travellers in Bulgaria,
Ireland, Romania, Slovakia and the UK. Pavee Point
Travellers Centre is the Irish partner in this project which
is lead by the UK partner, European Dialogue.
This project is funded though the EU Community Action
Programme to Combat Discrimination 01–06.
What will it do
The Project aims to build the capacity of Roma/Traveller
NGOs/activists to:
● equip them with the necessary skills to utilise the law
to ensure equal access to justice for Roma and
Travellers;
● lobby national government for legislative and policy
reform;
● raise awareness amongst Roma/Traveller communities
of their right to seek redress for discrimination.
In addition other key stakeholders will be invited to
participate to increase their knowledge and understanding
of national anti-discrimination law and the EU Race
Equality Directive. Outcomes of the trainings will be
disseminated nationally and across participating countries.
Why now
Across the European Union, States have introduced or
strengthened existing legislation to incorporate the EU’s Race
Equality Directive into their domestic law. It is important that
Roma and Travellers are aware of this legislative change and
the impact it could have on their lives.
In Ireland this Directive along with two others (on gender
and other employment issues) was incorporated into Irish
law through the Equality Act 2004.
Pavee Point Tsunami Relief
As a result of the Tsunami disaster
on St. Stephen’s day,Travellers in
Pavee Point called an emergency
Hall Meeting immediately after the
Christmas Break.
We got together to see what we as Travellers
could do. People were very upset as parents
and mothers that a disaster could affect so
many people in those countries and all over
the world. We just felt as a Traveller
organisation we had to respond to it. We
called a general meeting where everyone
was present to see what we could do,
says Winnie Keenan Co-ordinator of
Pavee Point’s Tsunami Relief Effort.
At the meeting people put forward lots
of ideas and from these three main
thrusts of action were decided upon: a
weekly deduction of money from people’s
We just felt as a
Traveller organisation
we had to respond …
wages that put their names forward, an
Easter Raffle, and participating in the
Women’s Mini-marathon, as well as
weekly collections in the Cultural
Heritage, PHC Training and Primary
Health Care Programmes. People wanted
to contribute over a period of a year.
TRAILER in Ireland …
Given the status of Travellers within Irish Society and the
refusal to acknowledge the form of discrimination they
experience as racism, the TRAILER project in Ireland seeks to
build on the equality infrastructure and legislation and promote
a more informed analysis on Irish employment policy and
practice developments.
This work will be rolled out through:
● 4 regional workshops on anti-discrimination and equality
measures.
● Travellers,Traveller organisations and local employment
service providers, will be trained in the provisions of the
Employment Equality Act (98–04).
● A national conference will be held in Dublin in 2006 to
bring together the results of the 4 regional trainings. 120
people from the Traveller community, service providers and
local and national government will be invited to participate.
● A conference report will be published.
So far …
The first workshop took place on the 1st of March, 2005 in
the Sligo Travellers Support Group’s premises in Carraroe
Parish Hall, Carraroe, Sligo.
The morning workshop gave people an opportunity to
discuss the Employment Equality Act 1998; how that Act has
changed since the Equality Act 2004 came into effect; and
what impact this legislation could have on their lives. In the
afternoon the workshop focused on positive action and how
this could help to address Travellers unemployment.The
EQUAL programme, Pavee Feens Hawken was used as a case
study during this part of the workshop.
A report of the day has been written up and circulated to
the participants. If you are interested in it or any further
information contact Bríd O’Brien, Pavee Point at 01 878 0255
or te@pavee.iol.ie
■
So far e1273.36 has been raised from
donations from wages and e778 from the
weekly programme collections and Easter
Raffle.“I feel these results show that
when there is a disaster Travellers and
settled people can come together and
really do something positive,” Winnie
adds.All proceeds from the Minimarathon
will go directly to Concern.
The Pavee Point newsletter will give
updates on developments and the final
count in December.
■

National Action Plan
Against Racism
The inclusion of Travellers
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., together
with Michael McDowell,T.D., Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform and Frank Fahey,T.D.,
Minister of State at the Department of Justice,
Equality & Law Reform launched Ireland's first
National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR)
on 27 January, 2005.
Speaking at the launch The Taoiseach stated the Plan was
“a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment
to adapt policy to the changing circumstances
of a more diverse Ireland”.
The NPAR is the
fulfilment of a
commitment given
by the Irish
Government at the
UN World
Conference Against
Racism in Durban
2001 and further
reaffirmed in
Sustaining Progress,
the Social
Partnership
Agreement
2003–2005.
This article gives a
brief overview of the
NPAR and outlines
some of the areas covered that will be of general and specific
interest to groups working with Travellers.
It should be emphasised from the outset that the NPAR is fully
inclusive of Travellers and for perhaps the first time in a programme
statement, the Government has explicitly recognised that Travellers
experience racism.The NPAR identifies different forms of racism,
including ‘Racism experienced by Travellers on the basis of their
distinct identity and nomadic tradition’
The NPAR (2005–2008) is underpinned by an intercultural
framework which comprises five key objectives, which give a
sense of the overall priorities within the Plan, these are:
© Photograph by Inaki Irigoien
Philip Watt, Director
National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism
1. Effective PROTECTION and redress against racism,
including a focus on discrimination, threatening behaviour
and incitement to hatred;
2. Economic INCLUSION and equality of opportunity,
Including focus on employment, the workplace and poverty;
3. Accommodating diversity in service PROVISION,
including a focus on common outcomes, education, health,
social services and childcare, accommodation and the
administration of justice.
4. RECOGNITION and awareness of diversity, including a
focus on awareness raising, the media and the arts, sport
and tourism
5. Full PARTICIPATION in Irish society, including a focus on
the political level, the policy level and the community level.
The Plan will form the cornerstone of the Government's antiracism
policy with its emphasis on the key concepts of inclusion
by design and a whole of system approach to policy formation.
A Strategic Monitoring Group, chaired by Lucy Gaffney has been
established by the Minister For Justice, Equality and Law Reform
to oversee the Plan and the Group will have available to it an
annual budget of Euro1 million to make targeted interventions
to further the strategic goals of the Plan.This is in addition to
the financial resources committed by individual Government
Departments and Agencies to meet the NPAR's goals.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is
currently considering Traveller representation on the Strategic
Monitoring Group.The NCCRI has advised that the person
should be drawn from one of the national Traveller
organisations, i.e.The Irish Traveller Movement, Pavee Point or
the National Traveller Women’s Forum.
➛
May 2005
13

Implementation Strategy
A ‘Whole System’ approach will be applied to implementing the
National Action Plan Against Racism.There are four key
strategies that together combine to become a whole system
approach, which are:
● Mainstreaming.
● Targeting.
● Benchmarking.
● Engagement.
These concepts are defined as follows:
Mainstreaming
● Link and build synergies with existing policy-making processes
at both a national and European policy level.
● Infuse intercultural/anti racism approaches into all relevant
policy areas, with reference to Ireland’s commitments to
equality and human rights.
Targeting
● The development of specific policy priorities tailored to
meet the needs of different groups based on research,
needs analysis and consultation.
● Additional resources to meet the additional needs of
groups experiencing inequalities and other forms of
disadvantage.
Benchmarking
● Setting targets and timescales for the achievement of targets.
● Developing data through which progress can be measured
in meeting targets and timescales.
Engagement
● The engagement of key stakeholders, including bodies involved
in policy-making and the social partners in the NPAR.
● The engagement of specialised and expert bodies.
● The engagement of local communities and national
interests, including those representing the interests of
cultural and ethnic minorities.
Key Anticipated Outcomes
Some of the key anticipated outcomes included in the Plan and
will be of particular interest to Traveller Groups include:
●
●
●
●
●
The establishment of an expert committee on racist
incidents to see how incidents related to the criminal law
might be more effectively addressed
The development of 10 Anti racism and Diversity (ARD)
Plans in 10 pilot areas.These are local plans aimed at
addressing racism which will include a range of actors
working at local level
Traveller employment programme.There are already
existing commitments to Traveller Education and Traveller
Health programmes.The NPAR gives a specific commitment
in the area of employment.
A national intercultural education strategy (which will be
inclusive of Travellers)
A national intercultural youth work policy (which will be
inclusive of Travellers)
●
●
●
●
●
●
The inclusion in the plan of bodies involved in the
administration of justice in the plan, including the Gardaí,
the courts service, the prison service
A major North/South focus to the NPAR which will include a
focus on increased cooperation between Dublin and Belfast in
combating racism and improving access to services by
minority ethnic groups.
The enhancement of anti racism/intercultural training within
the public sector
A new pilot initiative under the community development
support programme to support NGO’s
The development of an Intercultural Forum
A media code of conduct as part of the establishment of
the Press Council
The challenges
A key early challenge for the implementation of the NPAR is the
establishment of specific targets and indicators for the Plan and
to ensure that the Plan is given sufficient profile among the key
stakeholders.A further challenge will be to ensure that the Plan
is sufficiently resourced, while recognising that the mainstreaming
strategy will require that most of the resources for the Plan will
come from existing budget lines.
Task Force on the Travelling People
The Report of the Task Force on the Travelling People, 1995
remains the most important policy instrument in respect of the
integration of Travellers.
The Reports of the Task Force on the Travelling Community
sets out an overall approach to Traveller inclusion and outlines
specific recommendations on issues such as the relationship
with the settled community, culture, discrimination,
accommodation, health, education and training, the Traveller
economy and Traveller women.
In recent years there has been an increasing sense from both
the State and NGO’s representing Traveller interests that the
initial momentum generated by the publication of the Task Force
Report, which brought important developments subsequent to
its publication in 1995, now needs to be reviewed and renewed.
In particular there is a need for new implementation strategies
through which the agenda set out in the Task Force Report can
be further progressed, in particular in areas of policy where
there has been slow or limited progress.The NPAR identifies a
number of measures that are consistent with a renewed policy
response to the needs of Travellers (see above).
In short the NPAR is not an end in itself but a framework
through which new and existing policy developments might be
more effectively progressed.The implementation of the Task
Force on the Travelling People remains an essential component
of this framework.
Philip Watt
Director NCCRI
■
14

Healthy minds
Healthy lives!
On March the 3rd and 4th, two
Community Health Workers and the Joint
Health co-ordinator attended a two day
Mental Health Conference organised by
Cork and Kerry Mental Health
Association, Schizophrenia Ireland, Grow,
The Women’s Health Council and
The Health Service Executive in Cork.
This innovative conference explored ways
to increase the ability to manage and
promote mental health. It proved to be
extremely interesting and consisted of
presentations and research on the current
situation in Ireland, models of best practice
from other countries and nationally,
personal experiences and workshops.
Nellie Collins found the conference “to
be very interesting, the language used
was easy to understand, with
plain talkers.We were broken up
into small groups which were
very chatty. I would have liked to
see more Travellers attending
the conference to talk about
these problems in the Traveller
community, to explain our story and how
we are affected by depression to people
working in Mental Health”.
Missie Collins also attended the
conference and said “it was one of the
best conferences that I’ve been to.The
speakers were very open; Gareth O’
Callaghan the Radio 2 DJ spoke about his
own experience with depression, what it
felt like, how he didn’t know what was
happening to him at the time and what
helped him through it. He has written a
book on his own story and has spoken at
many conferences about depression.
There were many people from different
organisations and countries speaking at
the conference.A few of the speakers had
themselves experienced depression in the
past and were now working in
organisations who deal with Mental
Health.The issue of how spirituality is
important to people dealing with mental
health problems was discussed.This, I felt
was important and I mentioned that Faith,
and Holy Shrines are very important to
Travellers especially in times of worry.The
speaker from GROW, an organisation
working with people with depression
spoke about how his wife in the past was
dealing with depression and was helped
by a group of female Travellers.
“I felt very comfortable at this conference
and was able to easily approach people
and talk to them. It is the first time it has
been organised, and if it is repeated next
year, I think it would really help Traveller
groups and people working in Mental
Health If more Travellers came to it”.
■
Dáil
na
nÓg
In October of 2004, three young
Travellers working with Pavee Point
attended the Dublin Comhairle na
nÓg with the purpose of putting
themselves forward to represent
young Travellers at the annual Dáil na
nÓg, the Irish Children's Parliament.
On that day Michael Duke, Pavee
Point C.E.Worker, was selected to
attend the Dáil na nÓg because of his
outspokenness and concern for the
issues affecting young people and
young Travellers.
The Dáil na nÓg itself originated from the National Children's
Strategy 'Our Children – Their lives'.The event provides an
opportunity for young Irish people to give their input into
important issues affecting their lives.
Approximately 300 young people from throughout the State
attended the Dáil na nÓg in Croke Park on Saturday the 19th
of March.The topics for discussion included alcohol, drugs, and
facilities for young people. Brian Lenihan, Minister with
responsibility for children and Síle de Valera, Minister for Youth
Affairs were also in attendance.
In preparation for representing young Travellers at Dáil na nÓg,
Michael viewed videos of past Dáil na nÓg, and attended focus
groups and discussions with his peers about the issues that he
intended to speak about.With this preparation, Michael was
able to actively participate in the discussions and communicate
his views and those of his peers to both the Ministers and
other young people attending.
Michael Duke at Dáil na nÓg.
Of his participation in the event, Michael said,“it was good just
to get your point across, and more important, it was good to
get my point across as a young Traveller.”
As a result of his participation in Dáil na nÓg Michael was
elected as representative to the EU Steering Committee
for “Children,Teenagers,Young People – Co-protagonists
for Europe” project.This steering committee, including
representatives from the ISPCC, Dublin City Comhairle na nÓg,
and Deansrath Community School, has been provided with EU
funding to allow young people throughout Europe to take
action around issues concerning them. In deciding what to do,
Michael and his young colleagues chose drugs and alcohol as the
most important issue facing young people in Ireland. Because of
their concerns, the group chose to make a film in order to raise
awareness of this issue and its affects on young people.The
resulting film will be part of a Europe-wide project and will be
directed and developed by the young people themselves.
■
May 2005
15

Kankuamo
Visit
Pavee Point
The Kankuamo are one of four indigenous groups living in
the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Northern Colombia.
These groups are descendants of an ancient South
American civilization called the Tayrona, and are unique amongst
Amerindians as they were never truly vanquished by the Spaniards.
Unlike their neighbours, the Kogi, Arhuaco, and Wiwa, the
Kankuamo did become more assimilated into Colombian or
Western civilisation. However, they are now a symbol for the rest
of Colombia's indigenous groups, as their culture began to reemerge
20 years ago due to the determination of the ethnic
group's younger generation, who heeded their elders' call for the
need to recuperate their cultural identity.
Within Colombia's growing and hostile political climate, the
Kankuamo tribe has increasingly become caught up in the
country’s conflict. Like the other tribes of the Sierra Nevada
they are an unarmed people under constant threat and attack
by paramilitary forces.The killings of indigenous people in the
Sierra Nevada began in 1990 when the paramilitary militias
began to carry out the work of the drug
traffickers and the landowners.According to
reports 12 Kankuamo communities suffer from
food blockades imposed by right-wing
paramilitaries, which allow supplies through only
at the beginning of each week, meaning by the
end of each week food runs short.With the
paramilitary forces working hand in hand with
the local military, the indigenous communities
feel they are completely without protection.
The Kankuamo have suffered over 200
assassinations over recent years and in order to
highlight this terrible situation two members of the
group came to Pavee Point on Friday April 15th last
to share experiences and culture with Travellers.
This was part of a nation wide tour that Jaime Arias
and Adriana Hinojosa undertook which saw them
visit Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Kildare and
Belfast over one hectic week. Jaime Arias is the
political leader of the Kankuamo and has suffered
himself from the atrocities as both his father and
brother have been shot by paramilitaries in recent years.Adriana is
an anthropologist who has devoted her studies to researching the
history and identity of her people.
The delegation spent a half day in Pavee Point where they met
with the Cultural Heritage Group who showed them
traditional Traveller dress, flowermaking and tinsmithing.There
was also time to enjoy traditional food before a round table
discussion between the Kankuamo and Travellers regarding
their shared experiences of oppression and marginalisation.
The morning proved to be very useful and both Jaime and
Adriana found that Traveller culture, as both a nomadic and
oral culture, was experiencing similar external pressures and
threats to the Kankuamo. Commenting, Kathleen Keenan,Asst
Training Co-ordinator at the Pavee Point Culture Programme
stated:“Learning about the Kankuamo has been really
interesting. It is good to see that they have taken steps to
preserve their culture against outside hostility.There is
something there for Travellers to take heart from.”
Jaime Arias and Adriana Hinojosa with members of the Cultural Heritage Team.
■
16

Traveller women host
International Women’s Day
celebration at Pavee Point
Every year on the 8th of March women all over the world celebrate International Women’s
Day; a day that has a long history and importance for the improvement of women’s living
conditions and the attainment of women’s human rights.
Women’s human rights and the demand for social, cultural,
political and economic equality are highlighted on this day by
remembering the historical background of the day and the
women, who have had a significant impact on the movement
and through the holding of discussions, conferences,
demonstrations and marches focusing on what needs to be
improved and what is still relevant for women today.
It is also vital that Traveller women keep this date in mind,
because progress for Traveller women is recognised as a priority
in the move towards equality for all women, and issues such as
violence against women, gender inequalities in employment,
racism and sexism are crucial issues to be addressed if Traveller
women’s human rights are to be recognised.
The day included entertaining and informative activities like a
quiz and a slideshow presentation of photographs of women and
women’s involvement in Pavee Point taken over the last 20 years.
There was also an exercise about the historical background of
International Women’s Day in relation to Traveller women.
The women also explored what they want to improve for
themselves.These wishes and demands included;“Belief in
ourselves and opportunities to express this”,“Traveller women
to be able to get jobs apart from Pavee Point and to be
accepted how and what they are”,“That women would be
recognised and acknowledged as leaders in education,
employment and Human Rights work”.
A large calendar was also made whereby women were asked to
write down when they started working in Pavee Point and what
improvements for women they had seen in the last 20 years.This
was an invaluable tool in mapping women’s events and
achievements throughout the lifetime of the organisation.The
results and especially the knowledge of the older women were
overwhelming! The women highlighted events such as the First
Traveller Women’s Forum Day in 1988 and programmes, focusing
on Traveller women’s health and domestic violence, funded
through the European Union New Opportunities for Women
initiative. But they also expressed what Pavee Point has given them
personally: changes in working opportunities, more confidence,
pride to be a Traveller and no need to hide from society.
Overall, throughout the day, a very good atmosphere prevailed
and the women had a chance to meet, talk about their wishes
and reflect 20 years of good practice for women in Pavee Point.
Comment of a Traveller women:
“Pavee Point has given so many women confidence and allowed
them to speak up for themselves, gave us a chance to go and see
places we would not have had a chance to go to otherwise”
Therefore, Pavee Point takes part in these celebrations every year
and has a special programme for all the women in the organisation,
which is planned and facilitated by the Women’s Sub-group.
Pavee Point’s theme for International Women’s Day, 2005, was
“Celebrating 20 years of Women’s Involvement within Pavee
Point”, marking Pavee Point’s 20th anniversary.
■
May 2005
17

European
Roma and Traveller
Forum
What is The European Roma and Traveller Forum
The European Roma and Traveller Forum (ERTF) is an international assembly of representatives of Roma and Traveller
communities in European countries. Its aim is to promote the social and political interests of the Roma and Traveller population,
defend their human rights, struggle against racism and discrimination and promote cultural diversity.
The forum is the first such institution in Europe.This idea, discussed since the early 1990s, took a more concrete form in 2001,
when President Tarja Halonen of Finland, in an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, proposed creating
a consultative assembly for Roma on a European level.The purpose, in her own words, is to “give a voice to the Roma”. (It is
important to note that at a European level Roma also includes Gypsies and Travellers)
The Forum is an autonomous body, independent of government and inter-governmental organisations. It has a legal Partnership Agreement with
the Council of Europe, which, amongst other things, provides for the establishment of relations with the various bodies of the Council of Europe
Who participates in the ERTF
The Forum will be, at its heart, a body of
community leaders and policy experts
who shall be elected by Roma and
Traveller institutions across Europe. Each
country will send a delegation to the
Forum made up of persons who enjoy
the confidence of their community.This
plenary group of representatives may in
the future form sub-committees.The
Forum's plenary group is served by a
Forum office and professional staff in
Strasbourg, France.
What is special
about the Forum
The Forum will have an agreement with the
Council of Europe which will establish close
and privileged relations with the Council of
Europe and its various organs and bodies. In
virtue of this agreement the Council of
Europe will also provide technical and
financial support to the Forum.
The Forum will co-operate with the
Council of Europe, depending on the
case, by participating in the Council's
meetings and by providing consultation
and advice on policy and projects which
may impact on Roma and/or Travellers.
The Forum already has observer status at
several Council of Europe institutions.
The Partnership Agreement with the
Council of Europe also provides for
relations with the Committee of
Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly and
other bodies.
How will the ERTF function
The ERTF will, amongst other things:
●
●
●
●
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discuss and study major issues
concerning Roma and Travellers
participate in Council of Europe
meetings on issues affecting them and
try to influence decisions
advise and inform Council of Europe
bodies on issues concerning Roma
and Travellers
lobby with Council of Europe bodies,
such as the Parliamentary Assembly,
the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities, and with human rights
monitoring bodies
establish links with other
organisations and particularly seek
close relations with the European
Commission and with the OSCE
What languages will it use
The Forum will take place at the Council
of Europe in Strasbourg, and it will use
the languages of Romani, and English or
French in all its meetings.
Members of the executive committee
held meetings with all relevant
Traveller/Roma organisations in their
respective countries. Regarding Ireland
the perspectives of Traveller organisations
in Ireland such as Pavee Point, Irish
Travellers Movement, and National
Traveller Women’s Forum, were sought in
advance in order to seek as democratic
an Irish representation as possible at the
Forum. It has been agreed among the
three National Organisations that Pavee
Point will provide a delegate with the
National Traveller Women’s Forum and
ITM providing two substitute delegates.
For more information about the Forum's
aims and its rules, please read the Rules of
Procedure and the Statute and contact the
ERTF Secretariat with any questions.
ERTF
Council of Europe
DG III – Social Cohesion
F 67075 Strasbourg
France
Tel 33 3 9021 5350
Fax 33 3 88 41 27 31
Email: judson.nirenberg@coe.int
■
18

International Seminar on the role of
Culture in combating Social Exclusion
Contributors were Brendan Ó Caoláin, Pavee
Point; Eoin Collins, Nexus Research; Fouli
Papageorgiou, Prisma,Athens; Bisi Adigun,
Arambe Threatre Company Dublin; Siobhan
O’Donoghue, Migrant Rights Centre, Dublin;
Deirdre Healy, CREATE, Dublin and Glen
Eneh,Access Ireland, Dublin. Other
contributors were from the Arts Council, and
partners from Holland, Poland and Spain.
Cultural Heritage Drama Group.
Pavee Point hosted an international seminar on the ‘Role of
Culture and Cultural Expression in promoting Inclusion of
Minority Ethnic Groups’ on Thursday, March 3rd last.
The seminar provided an important and timely opportunity to
discuss the role of cultural expression in promoting awareness,
understanding and appreciation of Ireland’s and Europe’s
increasingly diverse cultures. It was being held as part of a
transnational programme funded under the European Union
Community Action Programme to Combat Social Exclusion
2002/2006 and involves partners from Ireland, Greece, Spain,
Holland and Poland, each of whom have been implementing
pilot cultural actions.
Among the key issues emerging were the
importance of cultural action as paramount in
addressing and improving the situation of
Travellers and other ethnic minority groups
across Europe. Cultural action encompasses a broad array of work
being done in the partner organisations.This work in the general
sense has its foundation in an acknowledgment of the
marginalisation of Traveller and other minority groups culture as
the crux issue leading to the exclusion of these groups in many
ways.The importance of cultural action in the field of the arts and
cultural heritage can be better appreciated in this context and
requires resources.
Given the experience of Ireland in promoting Community
Development, a particular focus of this seminar was on the
role of culture in capacity building.
In the afternoon a number of cultural events were held in
Pavee Point – among which were Johnnie K, a circus trained
clown (above) who has worked with school children in peace
and war zones against racism and xenophobia; and a lively
drama presented by Pavee Point Players, a Travellers’ theatre
group play that came directly from the grassroots and also live
Traveller music played by Mickey Dunne (left)(pipes) and Barney
McDonagh (whistle).The workshop was attended by a large
number of people from the target groups, NGOs, policy
makers and the arts community.
■
May 2005
19

Pavee News and Resources
J.M.Synge Plays
The Big Telly Theatre Company.
As part of Pavee Point’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations
The Big Telly Theatre Company performed two J. M. Synge plays
The Shadow of the Glen and The Tinker’s Wedding to a packed
hall at Pavee Point Travellers’ Centre on the 11th February 2005.
These plays dating from the 1920’s stimulated a lot of discussion and
Martin Collins Assistant Director Pavee Point highlighted the need for
the plays to be seen within the context of the time they were written.
Hearty debate ensued after the performances, everybody agreed
however that the actors and performances were excellent and the
evening provided a good opportunity for Pavee Point and others to
get together and meet socially.
Pavee Point Launches
Website Redesign
On March 21st, as part of International Day
Against Racism, Pavee Point launched its
newly designed website at www.paveepoint.ie.
The site is now easier to navigate and has a wealth of upto-date
information. Factsheets, articles, policy submissions,
newsletters, articles and more can be downloaded in a
speedy efficient manner.The new design by Tony Murray of
Rua Design (www.ruadesign.org) has proven to be very
popular utilising colour and photographs taken by
renowned photojournalist Derek Speirs. In addition to an
Information, Culture, Publications and Links section, all
programmes are on the site with contact details and
relevant information.
Orders for publications, videos and resources can be made
directly on the site simply by clicking on relevant boxes and
submitting email and postal contact details. Links to other
Traveller and Roma sites are also easy to find.
Internet users who have used the Pavee Point site have
sent in very positive feedback.
A Researcher from the United States wrote:“I just wanted
to tell you that Pavee Point's new website is brilliant. It's an
absolute goldmine of information and a great help in my
article research.Thanks for letting me know about the
website's updates!”
An Irish Student emailed:“I must say your website is
looking great and has loads of useful info. I’m studying
social studies and for one of my assignments I’m doing it
on the young Traveller community. Mostly around education
and youth.The website has been a great benefit to me and
keep continuing doing great work! Happy anniversary!”
●
Shadow Report
to
UN ICERD
published by
Pavee Point
Available to download from www.paveepoint.ie
Log on and have a browse through the various sections at
www.paveepoint.ie