Women’s Platform statement on racist and Islamophobic attacks
Women’s Platform stands in solidarity with all migrant and racialised communities in Northern Ireland and across the UK, and condemns the racist and Islamophobic attacks in recent days. There is no place for either violence or racism in our society, and we have a duty to work towards dismantling the structural barriers that perpetuate xenophobia, racism and religious hatred.
We are also deeply concerned about the drivers of recent events, which include far right movements that are characterised by anti rights ideology and have grown alarmingly in recent years. At the same time, the impact of public rhetoric has been to normalise racism, while drawing attention away from the core issues of increasing inequality, division and marginalisation that are shaping communities across the UK, as a result of years of austerity.
In particular, we reject the co-opting of the struggle against women and girls to drive division and hate, and also stand in solidarity with the three young girls murdered and many more injured in the targeted, misogynistic attack on a children’s dance class in Southport. Misogyny, which normalises violence against women and girls, is a structural issue across our society and we along with our colleagues in the women’s sector work to address it daily.
At this time, more than ever, the importance of realising and safeguarding the human rights of everyone cannot be overestimated. The UK has ratified all key UN human rights treaties, which provide a clear framework for realising rights for all. Implementation of these frameworks has long been an obligation for the UK – the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination dates back to 1967, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to 1948. It is vital that these obligations are now taken seriously, and there is a renewed commitment to human rights and valuing all human beings at all levels.
We call for strong leadership from our decision makers in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, as well as at Westminster level, and concrete action to end the riots and protect and support those affected. We call for a long term focus on investing in tackling inequalities, and an emphasis on social inclusion. In Northern Ireland, we are calling for a Racial Equality Strategy, publication of the Ending Violence against Women and Girls strategy and the suite of Social Inclusion strategies, as well as equality law reform including a Single Equality Act. On our own part, we commit to redoubling our efforts to advocate for rights based policy and decision making, and reaching out to women and girls in all their diversity, to offer our support in ensuring all communities are aware of their rights and have capacity to speak up for themselves.
Steps you can take
If you can please donate to this fundraiser to help those affected by the Islamophobic riots in Belfast.
Check in on racialised friends, neighbours, and colleagues offering support and solidarity.
If you are not directly impacted by racism, please consider taking practical actions to protect racialised communities, for example attending rallies and counter protests if you feel safe doing so.
Contact your local councillor, MLA and MP asking them to make clear their unapologetic opposition to the targeting of migrant and racialised communities, including the messengers of racism, islamophobia and sectarianism
We call on our members to offer their support and get involved with organisations tackling racism and supporting racialised communities in NI, which include:
ACSONI (African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland)
Assist NI
Rainbow Refugees
Nigerian Association NI
Migrants Solidarity Walks
Horn of Africa People’s Aid NI (HAPANI)
Anaka Women’s Collective
NI Somali Association (NISA)
Darfur Association
NI Centre for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NICRAS)
MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland)
Migrant’s Rights Network
End Deportations Belfast
United Against Racism
This statement draws on statements from the Women’s Policy Group, GAPS and Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA).