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Cyber Racism Needs Stopped and Respect for Human Dignity restored
NICEM welcomes the taking down of a racist Facebook page, “You Buy Rose? NO!!!!!!” which appeared to have numerous student members from Belfast.
What is most disturbing about the casual racism in these comments is the lack of consciousness amongst these contributors of the history of the Roma.
We rightly seek to achieve a rights-based culture in Northern Ireland and across Europe and the world. But international and European human rights standards are a direct response to the Holocaust. A few weeks after Holocaust Memorial Day, there are many who have no idea that hundreds of thousands of Roma were massacred in Nazi death camps. Violations of the human rights of Roma continue to this day as witnessed on the website of the European Roma Rights Centre (http://www.errc.org).
So also it seems that, while controversy surrounds a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, some treat fundamental rights to human dignity as a luxury rather than core elements of a democratic society. That is why we need to strengthen human rights education across the education system, both in terms of the history of human rights standards and their practical application in the twenty-first century.
Maybe then, we will not find thousands of young people signing up to view and participate in racist abuse of some of the most abused people in today’s Europe.
END…
Notes to the editor
The Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities is an independent non-governmental organisation monitoring racism and inequality in Northern Ireland. As an umbrella organisation NICEM represents the interests of black and minority ethnic groups in Northern Ireland.
NICEM’s vision is of a society where equality and diversity are respected, valued and embraced, a society free from all forms of racism, sectarianism, discrimination and social exclusion, where human rights are guaranteed. NICEM offers a racist harassment support and advocacy service for victims of racially motivated violence, this is a client-centred approach focusing on the needs of the victim, whether that be assistance with housing applications or criminal compensation claims. Due to lack of government funding, as a charity NICEM has had to seek alternative sources to fund this vital work.
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