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 4:14 pm on 7 June 2022.

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Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 4:14, 7 June 2022

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I'm really pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the statement today, and I really, really do welcome it. If we're going to look at—and this plan is—ending institutional racism and systemic racism, then we clearly have to tackle those institutions where we find the prevalence. Of course, that will be in education and it will also be in health. We've seen the inequality within the system of women's health that came forward under COVID, which has already been mentioned just now.

And we have to look at sport. We all know that, in terms of football, black, Asian and minority ethnic players are heroes when they're scoring, but should they miss a penalty or something, the racial abuse that they suffer afterwards is somewhat appalling. So, we have to look at the positives and the contribution that is made. We have to change the narrative and we have to, without a doubt, move forward with that at all levels. We have to change minds, in my opinion, by changing the narrative, and the narrative all too often is one of being negative rather than being positive. So, I really do welcome this.

I'm reminded here today that we talk about, 'Me, you, other'; we need to start talking—