6. Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Tackling institutionalised and systemic racism — Anti-racist Wales Action Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:55 pm on 7 June 2022.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 3:55, 7 June 2022

Well, thank you very much, Altaf Hussain, for your contribution and your questions. I started my statement by actually referring to that debate that we held last year, where we, the whole Senedd—. In fact, I remember speaking to Darren Millar about the motion that we all agreed, every party, as we did the year before. We did support that motion to wholeheartedly address the fight to root out racism and strive towards a more equal Wales. And I think this plan will help us actually deliver this. We can't have a debate every year without actually the kind of change that you know and that we know we have to address in terms of the racism that does blight people's lives in Wales. And that's why we've been very clear that this is an 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan' and it's got a robust set of actions to help us make a real difference to the lives of people in Wales.

Now, this is a leadership issue; it's a representation issue. This morning we had 300 people join our virtual launch and there were people signing up to, for example, the zero tolerance of racism campaign, very much led by Race Council Cymru and the Wales TUC. We had people from all over Wales. North Wales Race Equality Network—Professor Robert Moore—has played a key role in ensuring that we have a pan-Wales approach to this, as well as all of the community organisations who we funded, with the community mentors in every part of Wales who actually contributed to getting these actions, these goals, into the plan. It's been developed collaboratively, together, with black, Asian and minority ethnic people and, if we do get this right, then we can become truly anti-racist.

We have to actually get rid of policies, systems, structures and processes that result in very different outcomes for ethnic minority people. I've already mentioned the fact that we have a rich contribution of black, Asian and minority ethnic people to our society, and it can be felt everywhere, in every sphere of life, but not enough has been done to ensure that all can play their part, and to have that opportunity and that confidence that they are not going to face barriers as they grow up, go through school, education, opportunities. It is important that we do have those goals and outcomes.

I think you have actually referred to issues around crime and justice. Now, this is not devolved. I co-chair the policing partnership board with First Minister, and I think it's very important that, in fact, working together, in terms of devolved and non-devolved, we're trying to address this, because the criminal justice in Wales anti-racism action plan, alongside our anti-racist action plan, is going to be crucial in terms of ensuring that our partners in criminal justice—. And, of course, we would rather we were responsible for justice, and are pursuing the case—and, indeed, for policing, as, not your party, but this Chamber supported only a few weeks ago. But I think, when this is published, you will welcome, I'm sure, the criminal justice anti-racism action plan, because it is those police and crime commissioners and chief constables who've agreed to take this approach, and what they would like to see is one public service approach to advance race equality across Wales.

I just want to say, in terms of hate crime, we fund the Wales hate support centre. It's run by Victim Support Cymru—24/7 support, advocacy and advice, and also it's the first service in the UK to offer a national children-and-young-person-friendly hate crime service. And, of course, the campaign, actually, is part of our Hate hurts Wales campaign, which we've looked at, and it's going to help us identify where we need to address issues. The campaign highlighted the hugely negative impact of hate crime on victims in their own lives, and also referred to the bystanders who actually do not call out the racism that we all know about. I think it's important that we do see that race hate crime is recorded in Wales, and that our national hate crime statistics did show an increase, but it also highlights why our work in this area is needed, and that's why our hate crime in schools project is so important and our community cohesion programme as well. So, this is where we feel that Wales will lead the way with our anti-racist action plan, and we want you to be part of this, and I'm sure you will be.