This year marks the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Yet today, 60 years later, António Guterres Secretary-General of The United Nations acknowledged in his personal message “The poison of racism continues to infect our world”. Going on to say “I call for universal ratification of the Convention, and for States to implement it in full. And I urge business leadership, civil society, and everyday people to take a stand against racism in all its forms…”
In the last 60 years, some progress has been made. The Race Relations Act came into force in the UK in 1965, banning racial discrimination in public place places, and made the incitement of racial hatred illegal. In 1968, the Act was updated to address the issues of discrimination in the workplace and accessing accommodation. In 1976, the Act was extended again to define and include direct and indirect discrimination. The Commission for Racial Equality was formed in 1976 too (later replaced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2007). In 2000 we saw the Race Relations Amendment Act requiring public authorities to actively promote racial equality. Then 15 years ago in 2010, the Equality Act came into force, updating and replacing the previous legislation.
In Global politics we also saw encouraging signs of change, with Apartheid being abolished in 1992, Paul Boateng becoming the UKs first Black Cabinet Minister in 2002, America electing its first Black President in 2009 and what was lauded as “Britian’s most ethnically diverse Cabinet ever” in 2019 with six Cabinet Ministers being of ethnic heritage. Including Rishi Sunak who went on to become Prime Minister in 2022.
Yet for every step forward we appear to take, we seem to take several backwards too.
In 1970, the infamous Mangrove Nine trial. In 1981, the Brixton Riots. In 1993, the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which prompted the Macpherson Report to be published in 1999, concluding that the Metropolitan Police was institutionally racist. The racially motivated murders of Mi Gao Huang Chen and Anthony Walker in 2005, and Mushin Ahmed in 2015. The Institute of Race Relations monitors deaths with a known or suspected racial element in the UK. Their research indicates that between 1993 and 2013 that there were at least 105 such deaths in the UK. The Windrush Scandal in 2018, exposed the wrongful detention, deportation and denial of legal rights to Commonwealth citizens who had settled in the UK and continues unresolved today. In 2024 Race Riots broke out across the UK.
In 2023, the Guardian reported that Black people are seven time more likely to die after police restraint. The Institute of Race Relations report included the IOPCs 2019/2020 statistics revealing that 23% of deaths in, or following, police custody are people of ethnic heritage, disproportionately much higher than the ethnic population.
Between 2013 and 2023, according to official data, police recorded hate crimes, in England and Wales rose from 41,294 to a staggering 145,214. In 2013/14 the number of successful convictions for racist or religious hate crimes was 10,532, just under 25%.
All this depressing reading doesn’t begin to detail workplace racism and inequality. Suffice it to say, the CIPD report two-thirds of Black employees in the UK experienced racism last year! Race Discrimination claims have also risen since 2018 according to legal firm Wright Hassall.
Our Charity Partner, Race Equality First are on the frontline working to eliminate racial discrimination and support the victims of hate crime. Their CEO Aliya Mohammed says “Racism continues to be a persistent and deeply ingrained issue in our society. While we have made legal and policy advancements over the decades, we still see racial discrimination in workplaces, in policing, in the justice system, and on our streets. At Race Equality First, we stand firm in our commitment to fighting racial injustice and supporting those affected by hate crime and discrimination. True change requires not just legislation but a collective effort from all of us to challenge racism wherever we see it.”
Their continuous work with the UN aims to bring about lasting change by contributing to international discussions on racial equality, providing evidence on racial discrimination in the UK, and advocating for stronger protections for marginalised communities.
So, 60 years on, what can we all do better to eliminate racial discrimination now?
In the workplace:
- Ensure you have a zero-tolerance approach to racism
- Have positive policies affirming your commitment to equality and respect in the workplace
- Ensure Leadership teams and hiring managers have been trained on Inclusive Leadership and hiring practices
- Train employees on anti-racism and inclusion topics regularly
- Encourage participation in Employee Resource Groups for shared support and learning
- Create a safe and inclusive culture where all your people have a sense of belonging and can show up as their authentic selves
Personally:
- Learn – educate yourself on different ethnic groups, religions and cultures. Seek out podcasts, books and blogs that will increase your understanding of people with backgrounds different to your own
- Take steps to understand your own biases and privilege
- Understand the difference between “not being racist” and “anti-racist” – to create change we all need to be actively anti-racist.
- Call out racism wherever and whenever you see it
- Be an ally to those who are experiencing racism
If you care about equality, diversity and inclusion in your workplace, check, do you have an EDI policy or plan? Do you have employees of ethnic heritage and a good approach to inclusion to ensure all your people feel welcome and safe?
Creating brilliant environments, where everyone belongs and can flourish as their true selves, doesn’t happen by accident. If you would like to know how becoming accrEDIted© can help you improve EDI for all your people, please get in touch.
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