Amnesty International has urged the Government to show leadership in tackling racism before Ireland witnesses the levels of racist violence seen in other countries.
The director of Amnesty's Irish section, Mr Sean Love, said Travellers and black Irish have been victims of racism for generations. This has resulted in a lack of trust between Travellers and State officials, including gardai.
"Racism is a blot on humanity that infects virtually every country in the world," he said.
"Governments, including the Irish Government, must proactively tackle racism and ensure that justice is administered on the basis of human rights for all." He urged the Government "to take action and show the necessary leadership in tackling racism before we reach the levels of racist violence in other countries."
The call comes as the human rights group releases a report on ill-treatment and torture worldwide. Racism and the Administration of Justice outlines abuse in countries ranging from Rwanda, where up to a million people were killed within 100 days in 1994, to Britain, where institutional racism in the police has been widely documented.
There are no references to Ireland in the 126-page book. Amnesty's development manager, Mr Jim Loughran, said the publication focused on extreme abuses. "The fact that Ireland is not mentioned does not mean there is no racism in the criminal justice system . . . It shows the road Ireland does not want to go down."
Amnesty's Irish section will today release a booklet summarising research on racism here. It includes recent findings showing that only a third of people said they could form a friendship with a black person. Almost a quarter agreed that Ireland would be a better place to live if there were fewer minorities. Some 40 per cent said the Government was not doing enough to combat racism.
Today's publications are part of Amnesty's preparations for a United Nations world conference against racism next month in South Africa.