An Anti-Racist Programme for Government
CRER is urging Scottish Government to put race equality at the heart of its forthcoming Programme for Government. We've written to Scottish Ministers, setting out five priority areas for action.
Scottish Government Programme for Government - Key Issues for Race Equality
Dear First Minister / Scottish Ministers,
In advance of publication of the 2022/23 Programme for Government, we write to highlight some key issues that we hope will feature in the Programme.
Following the recognition that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black and minority ethnic communities in Scotland, and the affirmation that Black Lives Matter, issues of racial equality and anti-racism have been front and centre of many developments within the Scottish Government over the past year. These have included the establishment of the Race Equality Interim Governance Group, the work of the Race Equality and Anti-Racism in Education Programme and the support given to the Museums Galleries Scotland consultation on how Scotland's museums can contribute to our understanding of the legacies of empire, colonialism, and slavery.
These developments are welcome, as is the commitment to a long-term anti-racist programme of systemic change, to ensure that "by 2030 Minority Ethnic communities experience greater equality". However, we know from previous experience (demonstrated by our research into Anti-racist policy making: Learning from the first 20 years of Scottish devolution) that the right rhetoric does not necessarily lead to the right outcome. No matter how strong the commitment of allies within Scottish Government, race equality policy development will falter unless it is evidence based, rights based and responsive to the needs and priorities of BME communities in Scotland.
We look forward to seeing the proposals for long-term systemic change, and indeed to working closely with Scottish Government in developing these proposals. However, in the short term, we would ask Ministers to consider addressing the following urgent priority issues in the upcoming Programme for Government.
Child Poverty in BME Communities
Disproportionate rates of poverty amongst minority ethnic families is one of the most damaging and ingrained symptoms of structural racism in Scotland. Recent statistics show that 48% of children in Black and minority ethnic (BME) families are living in relative poverty in Scotland, and despite the inclusion of minority ethnic families as a ‘priority group’ within Scottish Child Poverty strategies, child poverty levels are rising in minority ethnic communities. We are now less than two years away from Scottish Government’s interim milestone of reducing relative child poverty to less than 18%. This will be impossible without urgent, specific and targeted action on child poverty in BME communities. There is also a need for a better evidence base to allow us to understand the nature, causes and consequences of poverty amongst BME communities in Scotland. The Programme for Government provides an opportunity for Scottish Government to announce targeted work to tackle racial disparities in child poverty rates.
Review of the Scottish Specific Public Sector Equality Duties
CRER has invested substantial time and expertise in the multi-stage consultation on the review of the Scottish Specific Public Sector Equality Duties. In a joint submission by 26 equality bodies, we raised serious concerns about the direction of the current consultation and called on Scottish Government to adopt a fully-fledged collaborative process, working with equality stakeholders in drafting the revised regulations. In addition, we remain disappointed that no research has been carried out on how the existing mainstreaming, impact assessment and procurement duties have been implemented, and feel that this would be an essential precursor to any review of these specific measures. Inclusion of commitments on these issues within the Programme for Government would reassure stakeholders that the review process is robust and meaningful.
A Scottish Museum of Empire, Slavery, Colonialism and Migration
There has been a long-standing call for Scotland to better recognise its role in empire and colonialism, not just to more accurately reflect Scotland's history, but also to assist with learning and awareness that would help build community cohesion and counter racism in the present day. The Scottish Government sponsored Steering Group looking at these issues supported this call, and has asked for initial funding of £5 million over four years to begin this work. We would hope to see this as a firm commitment in the Programme for Government.
Race Equality and Anti-Racism in Education Programme
This programme of work within the Learning Directorate seeks to address many of the key issues that CRER campaigns on, from racism and racist incidents in schools to building an anti-racist curriculum. We have been pleased to collaborate with civil servants, anti-racist activists and educators to generate solutions to these issues. As the programme reaches its action planning stage, the need for long-term, sustainable investment is clear; without this, the limited amount of possible action will amount to a 'sticking plaster' and the same issues will continue to impact minority ethnic learners into the future. A commitment to support this work in the longer term would be a valuable addition to the Programme for Government.
A New Infrastructure for Race Equality in Scotland
A key recommendation of the Scottish Government Expert Reference Group on Covid-19 and Ethnicity was that a more effective accountability and governance infrastructure for racial equality in Scotland should be established. This was partly in recognition that although many well-meaning policies have been adopted in the past, there has been a systemic lack of implementation or evaluation of these, leading to a position where the same initiatives are put forward time and time again without leading to any meaningful change. The Race Equality Interim Governance Group, of which CRER is a member, is in the process of considering, gathering evidence, and proposing a model to support the establishment of such an infrastructure. We anticipate that Ministers would want to support this important initiative through the Programme for Government.
We are aware that funding commitments may need to wait until the Scottish Budget is published later this year, but even if specific financial commitments cannot be made at this time, it is still possible to put race equality at the heart of the Programme for Government. Previous experience has shown that, no matter how positive the intentions of Scottish Government are, race equality policy will fail unless it is fully embedded in organisational culture and practice. The Programme for Government is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate that anti-racism is genuinely embedded in the work of Scottish Government.
We would be happy to discuss any of the issues raised if further detail or clarification is required and look forward to a positive response.
With best wishes,
Jatin Haria
Executive Director
Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights