The conference held this week in Strasbourg on racism and intolerance very usefully highlighted what can be done at national, European and global levels to combat this growing problem. Politicians, civil servants and delegates from non-governmental organisations brought together by the Council of Europe discussed experiences of racism and how to build inclusive multi-cultural societies that can resist it.
Ireland badly needs more exposure to these arguments. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, pointed out that Ireland has been identified as one of the states where racism has been growing, along with Finland and Spain. She highlighted worrying trends in Europe, including a rise in support for parties espousing far-right causes in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium. The fact that racist attacks and discrimination are increasing in such wealthy societies is especially disquieting. She called on political leaders to give a special lead, by example and transparency.
This was acknowledged by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, who addressed the conference yesterday. He spoke of major changes in Irish society and the need to prepare for them. His speech echoed one he made at a preparatory conference in Dublin for this meeting, where he spoke of the need for sensitivity, respect for human rights, in favour of tolerance and diversity and of the need to take resolute action against racism and hatred. It was novel to hear Mr O'Donoghue speak in this way - and welcome, if belatedly so. He committed the Government yesterday to ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. As the chairman of the Equality Agency, Mr Niall Crowley, said yesterday, such conferences can give those concerned a crucial stimulus to redouble their efforts. It is all too easy to say they are worthy verbal occasions, divorced from action to back them up. That is not the sense of this meeting, nor indeed, of the Council of Europe, which organised it. The council is a proper place for pooling experience and commitments, based on an effort to find a new consensus about best practice. A world conference on the subject is being held next year.
That said, vigorous action at national level to combat racism and political leadership to create, in Mr O'Donoghue's words, "an environment which recognises refugees as persons who enrich society", must follow from such commitments. That has been all too lacking in Ireland so far. It has led to a reactive minimalism in response to growing racism in everyday life. This sits incongruously and irrationally with Ireland's pressing need to welcome newcomers who are willing and ready to join the labour force and make constructive contributions to Irish society. Unfortunately Mr O'Donoghue's own department has been among the most restrictive in these respects. It is to be hoped its participation in this conference signifies a readiness to broaden its approach along the lines set out by the Minister yesterday in Strasbourg.