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The Northern Ireland Council For Ethnic Minorities Condems Racist Violence In Belfast
Following a series of racially motivated incidents in South Belfast, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities has been assisting the victims.
Racial Harassment adviser Jolena Flett, who has been working with the victims since the attacks happened, commented that: “at this stage the number one priority of NICEM is the safety and welfare of the victims. It is absolutely paramount that human rights of the victims are recognized and respected and that they are treated with dignity. We are especially aware of the vulnerability of the group given the number of children involved and as such we are working with the relevant agencies to ensure their safety is the key priority”.
A series of attacks on Romanian families in the south Belfast area began last Wednesday when the home of one family in the Lisburn Road area was targeted. Over the weekend there were further attacks on the homes of Romanian families in the area with the PSNI receiving reports of racial incidents and criminal damages. Fearing for their safety if they remained in their homes, a number of Romanian families gathered together outside one house on Wellesley Avenue on Tuesday evening. Later that evening more than 112 Romanian people were taken to a church hall where they spent the night and on Wednesday morning the families were moved to the Ozone leisure centre in Belfast.
Patrick Yu, executive director of NICEM, stated that: “the severity of this incident highlights the need for the immediate implementation of a robust coherent government strategy to combat racism, sectarianism, discrimination and social exclusion. We are aware that the Northern Ireland Executive has been developing a programme on “Cohesion, Sharing and Integration”; however there have been severe delays in this process and as such the previously developed “Racial Equality Strategy” has been put on hold. This is totally unacceptable. ”
This afternoon, NICEM, along with other key players including the Housing Executive, the PSNI and local politicians will be meeting to discuss the best way to tackle the issue.
Editors Notes
NICEM 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 currently has 29 affiliated Black and Minority Ethnic groups as full members; this composition is representative of the majority of Black and Minority Ethnic communities 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 works to bring about social change through partnership and alliance building, and to achieve equality of outcome and full participation.
For further information please contact;
Patrick Yu
Executive Director
NICEM
3F, Ascot House, 24-31 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DB
Tel: +44 (0) 2890 238645
Mob: +44 (0) 7710 767 235
Follow NICEM on Twitter
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