Immigration in UK
STRANIERIINITALIA.IT| Denham: Ethnic minorities "no longer automatically disadvantaged" |
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He pledges to redouble efforts to promote greater equality for all
16th January 2010: People from ethnic minorities are no longer automatically disadvantaged in modern Britain, Communities Secretary John Denham has said. While admitting that racism still exists in the UK, Mr. Denham said progress has helped create a society more comfortable with diversity than ever before. “Sustained action over the last ten years has promoted racial equality and better race relations, dismantled unfair barriers faced by many and helped to nurture a society more comfortable with diversity than ever before,” Mr. Denham said.  He praised the measures which have so far been implemented to promote diversity. The Macpherson Report in 1999 was a wake-up call for all public services. The Race Relations Amendment Act that followed in 2000 extended the laws against discrimination and over 43,000 public bodies were charged with promoting race equality. This has led to a more representative police force and a halving of racially motivated incidents since 1995. In addition, in schools, there has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of pupils of black Caribbean heritage gaining five good GCSEs. These measures have transformed the way public services serve BME communities, no longer simply passively addressing individual racist incidents but actively promoting racial equality and better race relations. Britain today is not the same place as it was a decade ago, Mr. Denham said. “New trends are emerging linked to the way that race and class together shape people’s lives and this makes the situation much more complex. That does not mean that we should reduce our efforts to tackle racism and promote race equality but we must avoid a one dimensional debate that assumes all minority ethnic people are disadvantaged. The landscape has changed and we have to make sure that our efforts are tackling problems of today and not those of the past,” Mr. Denham said. Launching a review of government policy on race, Mr. Denham pledged to redouble efforts to promote greater equality for all, and combine that with action to target the specific problems faced by particular groups. He stressed the need to do this in ways which are fair, seen to be fair, and in a way that will ensure no group is neglected or overlooked. “The Government has an absolute commitment to eradicating racism and promoting race equality. And that work will not stop until every single person in this country has the same opportunities and an equal chance of success.” He pledged the Government’s commitment to fight inequality and disadvantage wherever it exists. “If the cause is racism and discrimination we will challenge racism and discrimination. If the cause of disadvantage is social class, we will promote opportunity. And if the cause is a combination of racism and social class we will tackle both together. “We are working towards building a society where regardless of class, race, beliefs or anything else: in every community, in every corner of the country – we are on people’s side. No favours. No privileges. No special interest groups. Just fairness.” |