Current Working Programme
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Mainstreaming human rights and racial equality into government policy and practice
A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland
NICEM supports a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, and has been campaigning on this issue for more than 10 years. NICEM also continues to be a non-executive director of the Human Rights Consortium.
Annual Human Rights and Equality Conference
Each year, NICEM organises a conference on a different theme related to Human Rights and Equality. In 2013 the 15th annual conference focused on ‘Fundamental Rights Protection in Europe,’ and brought in speakers and participants from across Northern Ireland, the UK and Europe.
All Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities
NICEM continues to provide Secretariat support and advice on racial equality issues to the APG on EMC. The group works on a variety of issues; over the past year these have included access to healthcare, agency workers, the Racial Equality Strategy, hate crime, poverty and ethnicity, English classes for refugees and asylum seekers, and intercultural arts provision.
International Human Rights Law Monitoring
Building on work done in relation to the 2011 examination of the UK Government by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), an extensive project was designed and delivered in partnership with local communities on the examination of the UK Government in June 2013 by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This work involved a range of components: community engagement, research and lobbying on policy recommendations, and engaging with the Committee in Geneva. We are continue to lobby local politicians to implement the Committee’s findings, and have established a BME Women’s Network to continue to work on grassroots advocacy on these issues.
In the coming years the UK Government will be examined by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), and NICEM will work to ensure that issues from Northern Ireland’s BME communities are highlighted.
Racial Equality Strategy
NICEM continues to sit on the Racial Equality Panel, which provides oversight for OFMDFM as it works to develop the revised Racial Equality Strategy. We are concerned that the current draft does not fully incorporate important research done over the last five years. There are also no accompanying action plans from Government departments. We will continue to lobby on this issue, which is vital to the minority population.
Independent Research
NICEM is conducting research in the following areas currently: - Integration of non-EU migrants in Northern Ireland -Provision of childcare for BME families in the Southern Trust - Impact of the economic downturn on ethnic minority communities in the North West
Minority Rights Now
NICEM’s policy magazine is published quarterly, focusing on a different theme relating to ethnic minorities. The next edition will focus on NICEM’s 20 year anniversary.
Public awareness of racism and multiple discrimination
We run highly-regarded Equality and Diversity training for local community groups, NGOs, government departments and many others. Please see our Anti-Racism Training section for further details.
Capacity Building in Black and Minority Ethnic Communities
We provide direct support to BME groups, as well as advice, information and development and support to local BME and emerging BME groups. Please see our Capacity Building section for further information.
Supporting Vulnerable Groups in Society
Much of this support is provided by our sister organisation, the Migrant Centre NI. This includes advice and casework on issues of hate crime. More information can be found on their website.
Networking and Partnership Building
We work with a number of organisations across Northern Ireland, the UK and Europe, as well as being a part of coalitions such as the UK Race Europe Network (UKREN), Runnymede’s ‘End Racism This Generation’ campaign, and the Movement Against Xenophobia (MAX).
Other key partners in the UK include:
Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Discrimination Law Association
UKREN
Equanomics
Runnymede Trust
Operation Black Vote
UNISON
Kalayaan
Migrant Rights Network
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
British Institute of Human Rights
