Campaigners demand more education as Hate Crime Awareness Week is launched
HATE CRIME AWARENESS WEEK launched this year in Glasgow in the wake of the vote to leave the European Union (EU), the rise of xenophobia and Islamaphobia in Europe and a spike in hate crimes in England and Wales.
The meeting of 250 delegates was the second to take place in Glasgow and was highlight by organisers as of special significance in the light of Brexit. The event was an initiative by charities and the police to shine a spotlight on the abuse different disadvantaged groups face in Scotland.
Campaigners from racial equality, anti-sectarian and disability advocacy groups appealed for people in Scotland to be vigilant and “not be silent” in the face or any prejudice or “banter” they witness, and to report abuses.
Addressing the event. Bailie Fariha Thomas, a councilor for Govan and chair of the Glasgow hate crime working group (GHCWG) said: “We are standing in the city of Glasgow, a great city which took a stand through the 60s, 70s and 80s against apartheid. We recognised the lack of human rights in South Africa.
“We saw the degradation and knew it was wrong. I remember when this city gave Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city of Glasgow. That’s part of a heritage of opposing discrimination and it’s vital we oppose it at home and not be complacent.”
Thomas was joined by other speakers such as Karla Perwze Portillo, a legal expert on discrimination from Mexico, Robert McNeil who has worked on reconciliation in Srebrenica and the Hague, Tressa Burke, chief executive of Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) and Police Scotland superintendent Stewart Carle.
“I remember when this city gave Nelson Mandela the freedom of the city of Glasgow. That’s part of a heritage of opposing discrimination and it’s vital we oppose it at home and not be complacent.” Bailie Fariha Thomas
The theme of the event was the dangerous use of language in whipping up tensions against vulnerable people, ethnic groups and religious minorities. Speakers and performers scrutinised the way language, abuse and the benefits sanctions systems inflicted difficulties on those with disablities.
Additionally the police and charities have been a pains to emphasise the crucial role third party reporting plays in encouraging people of all backgrounds who have witnessed or suffered from verbal or physical abuse to come forward to interact with the law.
Police Scotland superintendent Stewart Carle said: “Just this week the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar was finally granted the justice that was delayed. We made mistakes, those years back. But it has improved. We have.”
The event was rounded off by the Purple Poncho Players, a dramatic and musical troupe formed from the membership of the GDA. In the act the players, through poetry, performance and reverse role play, poked fun at discriminatory attitudes that are still a feature of the benifits system and society.
There were 201 hate crime and violent charges reported this year relating to disability, representing a 14 per cent rise since 2015.
According to the 2015 to 2016 Hate Crime figures released by the Scottish Government this June, racial crime remains the most commonly reported hate crime. There were 3,712 charges reported between these years. However this did represent a 3 per cent decline on the previous year and the lowest number since 2004.
Hate crime based on sexual orientation is the second most common type of hate crime. There were 1,020 charges reported in the period of 2015 to 2016, an increase of 20 per cent.
Despite the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (OBA), all religious related charges at 581, were just 3 per cent higher than last year.
There were 201 hate crime and violent charges reported this year relating to disability, representing a 14 per cent rise since 2015.
Hate crimes in general are thought to be under reported to the police.
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