Galway has become the first Irish city to adopt an anti-racism strategy.
Published yesterday to mark United Nations International Day Against Racism, the strategy aims to embrace diversity, eliminate racism and promote interculturalism. It has been welcomed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as "an example for others to follow".
Details of the plan, which were outlined yesterday by the mayor of Galway, Cllr Catherine Connolly, include a declaration which citizens can sign as a symbol of their support.
Entitled Towards a City of Equals, the plan has been endorsed by Minister of State for Equality Issues Frank Fahey, who also attended yesterday's function in Galway's City Hall.
Some 9 per cent of Galway city's population was classified as "non-Irish" in the 2002 census, compared to a national average of 5.5 per cent.
Racist incidents have been on the increase in the city, according to the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) which recorded a high number of such instances throughout the State in the May to October 2004 period.
Incidents noted in the last NCCRI report included hateful and abusive mail received by a Nigerian candidate in the Galway city 2004 local elections, and publication of a property rental advertisement in a local newspaper which stipulated that "no coloured" need apply.
Discrimination against members of the Travelling community has also been a continuing issue, while a combination of poverty, social exclusion and misinformation has spawned a degree of interethnic racism.
Galway may be no "worse" for "better" than anywhere else in Ireland in terms of racist attitudes, but there is also anecdotal evidence of an increase in "Islamophobia" in the city, the authors of the strategy state.
Musbau Foley Sarumi of the Galway One World Centre and the People's Resource Centre said overt incidents of racial abuse were more prevalent two years ago. "Now it is more subtle, as much of it is institutional or practised by employers," he said. "That sort of racism is more painful than physical or verbal abuse, but I don't blame ordinary Irish people. I blame it on the policies of the State which make people feel unwelcome, and deny people the dignity of work and the opportunity to contribute to Irish society."
More than 30 targets aimed at eliminating racism are included in the three-year plan, which was drawn up by Ann Irwin for the Galway City Partnership in conjunction with an anti-discrimination umbrella group, Action for Equality-Galway, and the support of the Galway City Development Board. Declarations of support are available from the Galway City Partnership(091) 773466 and www.gcp.ie
