Afrophobia in Ireland still a problem, says new survey report
2015-12-01 12:24:48 -
Human Rights
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By Margot Garnier

 

“I have been in Ireland for nine years and I have been the victim of 17 racism incidents including three physical assaults,” said Lassane Ouedraogo, a board member with the Africa Centre. “When I approached the Garda, I didn’t feel supported or even being seen as a victim.”

 

Ouedraogo’s experience underlines the findings of a new study on afrophobia in Ireland, presented recently during the launch of a report by the European Network Against Racism (Enar) Ireland.

 

Based on testimonies reported through the web site iReport.ie, where victims of racism can make anonymous reports, the new study focuses specifically on discrimination experienced by people of African origin.

 

“It can be verbal abuse, segregation, attacks, hostility, discrimination in the workplace,” said Dr Lucy Michael, the author of the report, who added that there is not only one archetype of perpetrator of such abuse.

 

“The report shows that racism is not the privilege of poor and uneducated people. Racism is not only about bad people misbehaving but there is also an institutional dimension of racism.”

 

That notion was echoed at the launch by Salome Mbugua, who spoke of her work with the migrant women’s support network AkiDwA. 

 

“People of African descent are facing barriers to accessing housing, employment, justice, health … We need a legal framework to address the issues of racism; mapping the skills and contribution of the Africa diaspora in Ireland in order to show how people are contributing in Ireland; and rising discrimination awareness.”

 

Enar Ireland is hoping the report’s recommendations will be considered by the Government in what was declared earlier this year by the United Nations as the International Decade for People of African Descent.

TAGS : Afrophobia European Network Against Racism Enar iReport.ie Racism Discrimination International Decade for People of African Descent
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