Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal. features 11 people from different backgrounds exploring racism in Ireland
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (‘the Commission’) has today launched a significant national awareness campaign “Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal.” challenging individual and societal attitudes that lead to people from different ethnic backgrounds experiencing racism.
The national campaign will run throughout January across TV, radio, social and digital advertising from today, Saturday 26th December.
Entirely non-scripted, the campaign features eleven interviews with people from different ethnic backgrounds, sharing personal perspectives on racism in Ireland, including casual racism, the role of bystanders and the systemic, historical, societal and structural barriers encountered in everyday life in Ireland.
The campaign launches as new research, published by the Commission and carried out by Amárach research, surveying 1200 people in Ireland finds that almost half of young people (48%) aged between 18 and 24 have witnessed or experienced racism in the last 12 months.
The poll further finds that 8 in 10 (79%) Irish people agree Ireland benefits from being a more inclusive and diverse society in Ireland and 9 out of 10 (90%) Irish people believe that no matter who you are or where come from, you should be treated equally.
Participants in the campaign said:
“I always try to make people feel uncomfortable when we talk about racism because racism is an uncomfortable thing to receive and to live through.” Martin Beanz Warde
“For us to fight racism we have to have both sides. We have to bring out ourselves and see exactly who we are. And also the other person has to understand who we are. So it’s like it’s a two way thing, like having discussion, having a conversation about racism” Rosemary Kunene
“It’s very difficult to challenge the racism in Ireland because people say I’m not racist. Because if I say to somebody that they were racist towards me, they are saying, no, I haven’t been racist because you are not black. Racism is more than that. If you treat me different because of who I am or how I look, you are racist towards me.” Alex Petrovics
Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated:
“The purpose of this campaign is to promote conversation on racism in Ireland and have people from different backgrounds lead the discussion. The rest of us need to listen, really listen, and try to understand the experience of racism that many people endure.
“Encouraging conversations and promoting a positive dialogue [#AllAgainstRacism] can help us all to learn that individual actions have massive weight in dismantling racism in our society.
“While its positive that a majority of Irish people see the benefits of a more inclusive and diverse society, we have a long way to go towards equal opportunities for all. And each of us has a role to play in achieving that goal.
“The campaign may be especially useful to young people, parents, teachers, employers and everyone involved in sports and community organisations to find out more about racism and its impact in Ireland.”
The ads also encourage viewers to visit the “Because we’re all human. Means we’re all equal.” website for further stories from the participants as well as related information about challenging racism in Ireland.
ENDS/
For further information, please contact:
Brian Dawson, IHREC Communications Manager,
01 8589601 / 087 0697095
bdawson@ihrec.ie
Karen Joynt, IHREC
085 1746883
bdawson@ihrec.ie
Visit our website www.ihrec.ie or follow us on twitter @_IHREC
Notes to Editor
A link to additional detail of the survey is available here:
https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/IHREC-Survey-Results.pdf
Please feel free to use in coverage.
The TV ads are available here:
TV: https://vimeo.com/491625231?dnt=1/cbbc0e114c
VOD: https://vimeo.com/491624422?dnt=1/7ecfac888e
The radio ad is available here:
https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/IHREC-raihana-30sec-radio-version-2_Dig.mp3
The campaign webpage is available here: www.ihrec.ie/allagainstracism
Photos of #AllAgainstRacism Campaign participants for use by media are available here to download:
Martin Beanz Warde – https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/Martin.jpg
Rosemary Kunene – https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/Rosemary.jpg
Alex Petrovics –https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/Alex.jpg
Wide shot participants filming https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2020/12/RosemaryZak.png
Campaign Participants
- Alex Petrovics https://vimeo.com/491624422?dnt=1/7ecfac888e
- Cecilia Amabo https://vimeo.com/491624538?dnt=1/3c640dd5bb
- Senator Eileen Flynn https://vimeo.com/491624619?dnt=1/5bcc9e8ab3
- Jobin Prince https://vimeo.com/491624708?dnt=1/a0ae90d8bc
- Mariaam Bhatti https://vimeo.com/491624786?dnt=1/45a29d52b6
- Martin Beanz Warde https://vimeo.com/491624901?dnt=1/920c5d949c
- Raihana Zeroug https://vimeo.com/491624962?dnt=1/1941c87216
- Rosemary Kunene https://vimeo.com/491625231?dnt=1/cbbc0e114c
- Teresa Buczkowska https://vimeo.com/491625296?dnt=1/f0fc4e6614
- Thamil Ananthavinayagan https://vimeo.com/491625363?dnt=1/ced9eac321
- Zak Moradi https://vimeo.com/494055358?dnt=1
Campaign Consultative Group
With thanks to the following consultative group members who contributed to the development of this campaign:
Adrian Cristea, Alex Petrovics, Amel Yacef, Bulelani Cornelius Mfaco, Ger McTavish, Kelvin Akpaloo, Ken McCue, Maria Joyce, Mariaam Bhatti, Owen Ward and Teresa Buckzowska.
This campaign was created by Language Advertising and Design Agency https://www.language.ie/
In 2019, the Commission ran the first iteration of Because we’re all Human. Means we’re all equal. focused on disability rights .
The campaign supports the broader work of the Commission tackling racism in Ireland, through its research and policy publications, including reporting on Ireland’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) and its legal intervention work in the courts in proceedings that involve significant human rights or equality issues, including the promotion of protection of migrant, Traveller and Roma rights.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.