The next item is the debate on eradicating racism and building an anti-racist Wales, and I call on the Minister for Social Justice to move the motion, Jane Hutt.

Motion NDM7805 Lesley Griffiths, Siân Gwenllian, Darren Millar, Jane Dodds

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Supports wholeheartedly:

a) the global fight to root out racism and racist ideology and strive towards a more equal Wales, tackling systemic and structural race inequality;

b) the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

2. Calls for an update from the Senedd Commission on the development of a cross-party Welsh declaration embodying the principles of the CERD.

3. Welcomes the Monumental Welsh Women’s unveiling of the Betty Campbell MBE statue in Central Square, Cardiff.

4. Welcomes the Race Equality Action Plan for an Anti-Racist Wales to address structural and systemic inequality, and advance opportunity for black, Asian and minority ethnic people in Wales.

Motion moved.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm proud to be standing here again to address you at what is the third annual debate in this Welsh Parliament, with a motion on race and race equality fully supported across this Chamber. And it is to all our credit that we've built on each year's work to seek equal outcomes for our black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. In doing so, we recognise that racism exists and that we need to tackle it at a systemic and institutional level.

So, let me start with some illustrations of real progress: last month, a monument to honour Betty Campbell MBE, Wales's first black headteacher and black history campaigner, was unveiled. Scribed on the panel within the monument are Betty Campbell's words:

'We were a good example to the rest of the world, how you can live together regardless of where you come from or the colour of your skin.'

It was a groundbreaking day for Cardiff and for Wales, and a very proud moment for myself to stand with her family, the monumental Welsh women, sponsors, funders, civic and community leaders, and we honoured the trailblazing teacher and community activist who worked tirelessly for race equality and multicultural education. Betty Campbell put the study of black history on the curriculum at Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown, Cardiff, and taught her pupils there about the impact of enslavement and the contributions of black people to the history of Wales. She led the campaign to replicate this in all our schools.

So, let me share a second example of real and tangible progress: last year, Professor Charlotte Williams OBE chaired the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities' contributions and Cynefin in the new curriculum working group, and this was an independent review requested by the Minister of education to advise on and improve the teaching of black history across all parts of the school curriculum, and we are the first nation in the UK to make the teaching of black history mandatory, and we do this in the belief that all future generations will learn the true history of how this nation was built. Our education system has broadened our children's understanding of the many cultures that have built Wales's past and present, inspiring them to become ethical and informed Welsh citizens of the future.

My final example of real progress recognises that we can't rewrite our past, but we can recognise and learn from it. Following the killing of George Floyd in the US, the rise of Black Lives Matter and an increased awareness of race disparities, the First Minister asked Gaynor Legall to lead an independent task and finish group to carry out an audit of Wales's historic monuments, buildings and street names that have associations with the slave trade and British empire. And we're now considering how we move forward as we seek to honour and celebrate diverse communities.

But today, sadly, racism remains constantly around us; it's on our streets, in our services provision, in our workplaces, and 2020 was the year we all confronted racism like never before. As a nation, we all started to have challenging conversations about the impact of racism. COVID-19 highlighted the impact of uneven outcomes on our black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as never before. It was a call to action for moving from the approach of race equality to something more active and assertive, to have a vision for an anti-racist Wales. And since December 2019, I've been discussing with the Wales race forum the development of a race equality action plan. In March this year, we launched the draft plan for an anti-racist Wales for consultation; it was one of the last statements I made before the election in May, and it was well received. The plan is ambitious; it sets out a series of goals and actions across all ministerial responsibilities for all committees, and all Ministers have a role and a responsibility. It reflects our ambitious and radical vision for Wales in which there is zero tolerance for racism in all its forms, with the single purpose of seeing measurable and significant changes to the lives of ethnic minority people. We need to do this in all spheres of life, and I'm clear that this is what this work is all about—making a measurable difference in a consistent and determined way, so that our promises don't fall through what is always and often called the 'implementation gap'.

The plan is different also in that at its heart are the lived experiences of ethnic minority people. We've developed this work in a different way—we've co-designed it with the people it impacts on, and this will continue through to implementation. It is imperative that the trust and goodwill gained by developing this work is maintained, and that it moves the burden of racism from the victims to everyone in society. Those of us in different sectors, elected representatives, need to lead, as we have the power and authority to make the systemic and institutional changes that an anti-racist approach needs. As a Government, we have responsibility to drive this change.

And I'm particularly proud that the plan is grounded in that lived experience of black, Asian and minority ethnic people in Wales. Around 2,000 people across Wales have shared their views and lived experience, which has been powerful and at times painful for those involved. It is our duty not to ask ethnic minority people to keep repeating their painful experiences, but to act on what we hear, and this plan would not have been possible without their contributions. But I'm also grateful to the co-chairs of the steering group, Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna from Cardiff University and the Permanent Secretary, Dame Shan Morgan, who provided challenging, thoughtful and supportive leadership. I would also like to thank the 17 black, Asian and minority ethnic community mentors who worked alongside Welsh Government officials, bringing what I called the lived experience into the Welsh Government corridors in an imaginative and collegiate way.

We often say that doing the same will result in the same. We've tried to do things differently, and it has paid dividends. Our deep-dive session on each policy area brought both academic and lived experiences together to inform our future actions. In one deep-dive session, it was shocking to hear one member of Diverse Cymru tell us, and I quote,

'Sometimes a car will pass you. They call out "terrorist", or "go back home" and all that stuff. So you get used to it. For the rest of your life you're living here, you get used to racism.'

The race equality action plan closed for consultation on 15 July. We had a substantial number of responses, with over 330 individuals and organisations submitting their views in a variety of formats. We're working at pace to respond to that consultation process, and it's clear that we need to focus on the key areas of change described, and call for a focus on clear and measurable outcomes.

Deputy Llywydd, in August we were all gravely concerned as we saw the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, as thousands of people were fleeing the Taliban, and I'm proud of the steps in Wales evidencing that Wales is indeed a nation of sanctuary, the steps that we took to welcome more than 50 families. I'm grateful that every Welsh local authority has pledged their support to the Afghan relocation and assistance policy, an Afghan citizen resettlement scheme. We in Wales have shown what collaboration and joint effort can do to provide a compassionate response to people seeking sanctuary.

Migrants have long formed an integral part of our nation, and I was particularly proud to be present at the launch of Black History Cymru 365, organised by Race Council Cymru, which featured the opening of the 'Windrush Cymru—Our Voices, Our Stories, Our History' exhibition at St Fagans National Museum of History. And of course, we have an exhibition here in our Oriel. It's important for Welsh Government to recognise and value the contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants to our country over the last 73 years, and also all other migrant communities who came before and after. I also presented at the ethnic minority Welsh women's awards ceremony last month, and was inspired by so many ethnic minority women's skills and talents. We have a formidable group of emerging and present leaders from all sectors.

Finally, I would say that fighting racism calls for action, not words, and today I call on all leaders to take an active role in ending all race inequality and driving racism out of countries, societies, structures and systems. We must take direct practical actions to invoke change. Join us in the vision that we can be an anti-racist nation. The time to act is now, so that we can make a measurable difference to the lives of black, Asian and minority ethnic people in Wales—our people in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.

I am proud to be able to contribute to this debate this afternoon. Proud because as someone who came to this country as an immigrant seeking opportunity and a home, I know how far this country has come. Proud because the country I now inhabit is so different in its attitudes to the one I arrived at. Proud because I have had the opportunity to serve in this Welsh Parliament.

Deputy Presiding Officer, I come from Kashmir, Indian-held Kashmir, which was sold in 1846 by the British East India Company for 7.5 million Nanakshahi rupees, which is equivalent to £75,000, as a part of the Treaty of Amritsar. Into the bargain went the territory and its people, and their rate was fixed at two rupees, 1p per head, besides other annual bindings on Gulab Singh. There were other bindings here too. My ancestors were, in effect, sold by the British into slavery, which still continues. The experiences shared and passed down by family members sit heavy in my heart. It makes me think about the world around us, how we treat each other, how we celebrate diversity and promote inclusion, and how we promote opportunity for all.

There are many people who arrive in the UK with similar stories, people whose ancestors came here for a better life. We have become an island of different cultures, people who have settled here contributing to our Welsh and British way of life. This is something to celebrate and not to fear. I was fortunate. I had a skill and was afforded the opportunity to succeed, to train as a doctor and pursue a working life as a consultant surgeon here in the NHS. In fact, we have a lot to thank our immigrant communities for, without whom we would have a much bigger staffing crisis in the NHS.

The motion today talks of equality. I am not convinced that we understand what equality means for people of colour, and how equality is achieved. To me, equality is about opportunities. The more we can offer people from diverse backgrounds the chances to succeed in life, the more the challenges and consequences of inequality will be addressed. It is also about promoting knowledge and mutual understanding between different racial groups, advancing education, and raising awareness about different racial groups to promote good relations, working towards the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of race, and promoting the values of cultural inclusivity and integration.

I also believe that we need to empower people. We should seek to develop the capacity and skills of the members of the minority ethnic and religious communities in such a way that they are better able to identify and help meet their needs, and to participate more fully in society. It is all too easy for those in authority to take a paternalist approach, to assume that people from minority ethnic groups need things done for them, whilst the best intention, can lead to people being disempowered. We need to find ways to empower people through education and opportunity, and I look forward to hearing from the Minister as to how this will be achieved. Thank you very much.

This Welsh Government race equality action plan has come at a pivotal time, and I'm so pleased to hear our Minister say today that it's all about ultimately creating an anti-racist Wales. I just want to say as a new Member of the Senedd, as I haven't been able to contribute in the previous debates, in the wake of the brutal murder of George Floyd that sent shockwaves around the globe, I am so incredibly proud of my own community. We held protests in Newbridge Fields in Bridgend and also at Rest Bay in Porthcawl, and they were mostly organised by young people—like I said, incredibly proud—wanting to tackle the deep-rooted racial inequality in our society.

So, there is no denying why the race equality plan is needed. A study conducted in 2019 revealed that 70 per cent of black and minority ethnicity people had experienced racial harassment in the workplace, and, what's more, 40 per cent of those employees had reported cases to their employers and hadn't been taken seriously or just been simply ignored. In schools, the Show Racism the Red Card annual report found that 77 per cent of pupils in Wales had seen racially motivated offences, and this is echoed in the Race Alliance Wales 'Show Us You Care' report, which included lots of testimonies from people who had experienced racism, and also the recent Voice.Wales article had a student, Ben, who was quoted as saying that he never reported incidents in school of racism because he didn't think he'd be believed or taken seriously, and he said that,

'By age 15 I was suicidal and violent' because he had been treated with such contempt at school for no reason other than the colour of his skin. It highlights that we cannot simply put pressure on the individual to act, when the foundations, system and existing policies cannot protect them. We must make sure that our black, Asian and minority ethnicity communities are confident to attend work, education or any other part of society, free from racial harassment, and if racism does occur, in whatever form, it is treated with the severity that it deserves.

In my own constituency of Bridgend, and Porthcawl, I am pleased that the local authority had committed to actively ending discrimination, advancing equality of opportunities, and fostering positive relations between communities. And that's why I'm just very pleased to see today that the Minister for Social Justice had consulted a diverse range of communities in producing the race equality action plan, including EYST, Wales race forum members, Wales TUC, and others who have made it clear that we need more than to not be racist. We must focus on being anti-racist. We must ensure that those voices are uplifted within our communities and their experiences are heard, so again I just want to add two voices to that today. Organisers of Black Lives Matter Bridgend, Anna and Olivia, have been working so hard to make positive change in our community, and they have said, 'We must ensure that policy enables professionals to protect individuals from racial discrimination and continue to listen to those facing inequalities in schools and at work.' We now owe it to those people who have given so much time and commitment to sharing their lived experiences the opportunity to see this reflected in policy and Welsh Government.

I'm very proud that Plaid Cymru co-submitted this important motion today, As we discuss it, we of course also mark Black History Month, a month that celebrates important black figures in our history, as well as noting how central the evidence of black people is to our culture, and that, of course, is important throughout the year.

Black history is integral to Welsh history. There are aspects to celebrate, such as the translations of the slave narratives of John Marrant, Moses Roper and Josiah Henson into Welsh in the nineteenth century, which fired the radical abolitionist zeal of the Welsh; the connections with Paul Robeson, who argued that he witnessed the unity of working people of all races in Wales; and the myriad examples of black contributions to our contemporary history and culture. There is also, of course, the history of racism: the 1919 riots that devastated Cardiff; the popularity of blackface minstrelsy in Welsh carnivals and on British tv, long after those racist practices had ceased in the US; and the contemporary examples of racism in our society. As the Iraqi-born, Cardiff-based artist, Rabab Ghazoul, has said, Wales as internal colony and contributor to colonialism has,

'the capacity for both radical empathy and radical responsibility.'

That responsibility is foregrounded by the fact that last week was national week for hate crime awareness.

I hope that we all stand shoulder to shoulder with those suffering racism, but there is room for us to be doing a lot more to tackle hate crimes. According to the Government's own figures for 2020-21, there was an increase in 16 per cent in hate crimes on the previous year, and 66 per cent of those hate crimes were racist hate crimes. This is consistent with the general trend, year on year, of an increase in hate crimes in Wales, and the number has more than doubled since 2012-13.

As we've heard today, for three consecutive years we've had this debate in the Chamber, where the motion had very similar wording, yet racially motivated hate crime is still increasing. How does the Government account for this? We, of course, welcome the race equality action plan, but what is going wrong here? We need to face it.

In Wales and England, the police are nine times more likely to use their stop-and-search powers and almost eight times more likely to use tasers on black, Asian and minority ethnic people than white people. The percentage of black people in Welsh prisons is higher than the general Welsh population. And according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, a higher percentage of black, Asian and minority ethnic people feel a lack of confidence in the ability of police in dealing with complaints fairly. We in Plaid Cymru have argued that devolving powers over justice and policing would empower us here in Wales to make the improvements that need to be made. What is the Government's solution?

Now, I'd like to look at one of the subclauses of the motion because I think it encapsulates the spirit of the motion more broadly. The first clause supports,

'the global fight to root out racism and racist ideology and strive towards a more equal Wales, tackling systemic and structural race inequality'.

As a modern nation that contributed to the existence of the British empire—and we heard very powerful evidence from Altaf Hussain in this regard—it is no surprise that systemic racism continues within our society, but it's also worth noting that anti-racist attitudes and resources within Welsh culture and society, such as the works of Leonora Brito, Charlotte Williams, Hazel Carby, Glenn Jordan and others, do provide resources to challenge and undermine racism. This clause also recognises the link that exists between structural and systemic racism on the one hand and racist ideology on the other. Racist ideology can be very apparent at times, but it can be more subtle too, as politicians, journalists and others in positions of influence use dog whistles, hiding their real racist motivations and pushing the boundaries of discussion towards reactionary hatred.

We all have a moral responsibility to be proactive in our anti-racism. We must take more effective action to ensure that there is no space in our politics, in our media, in our workplaces or in our institutions for ideologies that bring forward racism and inequality. How can we ensure that our national institutions reflect modern Wales in all its diversity? Well, as we reform the Senedd in order to serve the people of Wales more effectively, we should truly consider, for example, the demands for quotas and other steps in order to increase the representation of black and minority ethnic people—

Would the Member come to a conclusion, please?

—who are currently under-represented.

In our journey towards full national status, it is crucial that we face the racism in our past—that we pass legislation and develop cultural, institutional and educational practices that tackle racism in the present, and that we hear and listen to the historic and contemporary voices of black and ethnic minority people as we strive to foster the traditions of anti-racism in our culture, as embodied so powerfully in the statue of Betty Campbell unveiled last month. Diolch.

It is more than welcome that there is cross-party support from this Senedd Chamber to send a very clear signal of our collective determination to eradicate racism and to build an anti-racist Wales alongside a nation of sanctuary.

I was struck recently, as were many, by the unveiling in the centre of Cardiff of that statue of Betty Campbell, and the following day, Wales's national newspaper carried on its front page a simple photograph of the statue with the words, 'You don't have to settle for the boundaries people set for you'. But, as others have outlined, sometimes those boundaries just seem too hard to break when they are all around you. These were the words of Betty's granddaughter, Michelle Campbell-Davies, and they say, 'You cannot be if you cannot see'.

Betty Campbell was Wales's first black headteacher and was a distinguished councillor for her community of Butetown. And this wonderful statue by sculptor Eve Shepherd marks an important moment in the Welsh conversation about racial equality. But it just highlights how much further there is to go. We only have to look at ourselves across this Chamber to realise that there is still work to do. And so it was great to see, in the official royal opening of the Senedd, that mention was made of our colleague Natasha Asghar being the first female Member of the Senedd from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background to be elected to this place. But this should not be of note in a diverse Wales. This race equality action plan for an anti-racist Wales will work to address and to counter structural and systemic inequality, and advance opportunity for black, Asian and minority ethnic people in Wales. And so let's take this opportunity, all of us here together today, across this Chamber, on this. All for one, and one for all. Thank you. 

I'd like to thank the Minister firstly, for bringing forward this incredibly important debate. And I'm pleased to be a co-signatory of the motion welcoming the introduction of the race equality action plan so that we can create an anti-racist Wales. Whilst at times in the media it may seem that we are more divided than ever, it is heartening to hear so many contributions across the Chamber this afternoon, and that we are all together in supporting this action plan. 

In particular, I'd like to very briefly highlight some of the areas in which I feel we as politicians here, and as members of our respective parties, should be doing more in order to bring about an anti-racist Wales. Firstly, I'd like to highlight the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. There have been countless studies and news reports over the past 18 months that suggest that black, Asian and minority ethnic people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, particularly our health and social care workers. For instance, across the United Kingdom, 21 per cent of the healthcare workforce are black, Asian or minority ethnic, and, astonishingly, 63 per cent of healthcare workers who died were black, Asian or minority ethnic themselves. That is quite shameful. This demonstrates quite clearly a significant inequity in the safety of healthcare staff, and we should all be mindful of this as a sad example of the injustices that still exist in today's society. 

Secondly, I think it's worth drawing attention to the Government's commitment to language and to discontinue the use of the phrase 'BAME'. Whilst I acknowledge that, within my own party, we have some way to go to ensure that everyone, at all levels in the party structure, understand the implications of this phrase, it is incumbent on all of us to use the right language in our respective parties to show leadership on this issue. 

Lastly, I'd like to highlight, as has already been highlighted, the issue of representation in the Senedd. Without making the issue a political football, I think it's so important to draw attention to the role that we have, once again, as politicians and as members of our respective parties, to address the issue of fairer representation. We must all do more to ensure that we redress the imbalances right here in this Chamber. So, let's all take notice of the Welsh Government's commitment to make no new promises, but to deliver, deliver and deliver, and take this message back to our political parties and make sure that we do the same to increase the representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic people here. 

So, I'd like to thank the Minister for bringing this to the Chamber, for commissioning this report, which is ambitious in its scope, and I look forward to supporting the Government in attempting to create the anti-racist Wales that we all want. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

I call on the Minister to reply to the debate.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to thank everyone for contributing to this important and significant debate on race. The speakers in the debate this afternoon and, indeed, our minority ethnic communities are telling us that we need to act now to deliver on our vision of a Wales that is anti-racist, where everyone is treated as an equal citizen. 

I want to start, in acknowledging the contributions, by thanking you, Altaf Hussain, for your very powerful words and for sharing with us an account of your life, your heritage, your ancestors, sold into slavery, and your life now here and your huge contribution. And I think, as you said, it's how we treat each other, it's an understanding of how we tackle inequality, prejudice and discrimination—it's how we treat each other, how we promote inclusion and diversity, as you say, and how we can learn how to promote those good relations and integration.

And I would just want to say that the nation of sanctuary vision—and we're so proud—in fact, the Llywydd spoke about our nation of sanctuary when she spoke last Thursday, and we were proud of that, weren't we, in that all-important ceremony, the opening of our sixth Senedd. The nation of sanctuary is about making Wales not just welcoming to migrants, but also harnessing the opportunities that migration brings to help our economy and our communities to thrive, and that we provide that warm welcome to those arriving and provide the support they need, so that they will, I know, make their contributions—indeed, as have so many, as you said, Altaf Hussain. So thank you for your contribution this afternoon. And thank you to the Welsh Conservatives for co-tabling. Darren and I have visited this, these motions, every year in this capacity. Thank you also to Plaid Cymru for co-tabling, and thank you to Jane Dodds. It just is such a statement, isn't it, when we all come together and unify in this way.

It was very important to hear from Sarah Murphy about the young people in Bridgend. I think I've met some of those, and they came together, as you said, through Black Lives Matter; they came together and they met and discussed the issues, they came out onto the streets, into the community. And just to say, this is why the education system, our support for education, is so crucial in terms of the new curriculum, because, for the young people, it will empower teachers and all our schools to design lessons that will inspire them, as I said, to be ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world. We have to thank Professor Charlotte Williams for enabling that to happen, and indeed the former education Minister, Kirsty Williams, for taking this forward, and now Jeremy Miles. He was very proud on 1 October, on the first day of Black History Month, which is now Black History 365, in saying, 'Now, it's mandatory in Wales, and we are the first in the UK.' But thank you for sharing, again, the young people—Anna and Olivia from Bridgend—their experiences and the influence that they're now having on their peers and the communities of Bridgend.

Thank you to Sioned Williams as well for co-tabling this debate. And as you said so powerfully, this is about, actually, are we going to do something different this time, is it going to be a change, moving to this race equality action plan for an anti-racist Wales. And it's interesting, as we said—during the year, many things happened, and I highlighted those, but one thing we did do was put money into black history, so it's not just Black History Month, it's Black History 365 days a year. And this year, we celebrated local what we called heroes and sheroes, thanking those who work tirelessly within their communities, and the richness and strength and contributions that black, Asian and minority ethnic people and communities bring to Wales is our history for as long as I've been engaged in politics.

It is important that we look at language, as Jane Dodds has said. And I think we have reflected, as Rhianon Passmore has done, on that pioneer community leader and campaigner, Betty Campbell. But to have her children and her grandchildren speaking at the unveiling of her statue was so powerful, and you've echoed the words of her granddaughter, Rhianon, this afternoon. Racism, prejudice and intolerance didn't stop Betty—it galvanised her to push forward and achieve, and she was a change maker who overcame so many barriers, so that we can recognise that we have now got to deliver in terms of her legacy.

I'm grateful that, Sioned Williams, you drew attention to the national hate crime statistics, which were of great concern last week. But actually, over the past year, we've probably done more work to increase awareness and the confidence of victims to come forward and report hate crime. We have been very concerned about this increase in recorded hate crimes in Wales this year, compared with the previous year. But this is about ensuring that people are coming forward and there may be better awareness, we hope, and better recording of hate crimes by police forces. And we're embedding actions to eliminate hate and prejudice into the race equality action plan for Wales.

We have many themes in the race equality action plan and one of them is criminal justice. It's not devolved, but those who co-designed this strategy with us, and who wanted to influence it clearly with lived experience said, 'You have to have criminal justice in this action plan.' And our plan has the collective aim that everyone who comes into contact with the criminal justice system will receive equal treatment and equal outcomes whatever their ethnicity, alongside education, employability, skills and culture—it came through in your statement this afternoon, the influence it's already having—Welsh language, heritage, sport, leadership representation, health and social care. All areas of the Welsh Government are now making that change.

So, we now have a responsibility. We've come together today, and we will throughout this year, I know, recognise—. And you will hold us to account in terms of ensuring that we deliver on this plan in a way that has not been seen before. I'm very proud that it is a race equality action plan for an anti-racist Wales. All of us will have to learn and change and deliver to make this a living document that is truly making a difference and that we can then see that measurable difference to the lives of black, Asian and minority ethnic people in communities here in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

And that brings today's proceedings to a close. Good night, everyone.

The meeting ended at 18:22.