Press Release December 2005
Traveller Focus Week
08th Dec 2005
As Traveller Focus Week (2nd-9th December) drew to a close a number of Irish Non Governmental organizations congratulated this year's organizers, Pavee Point, on the co-ordination of "an important and inspiring initiative" and indeed on their twenty years "committed work" for the Traveller Community.
The ICCL, The Dominican Justice Office and Comhlámh particularly expressed their support for the week's central theme of 'Recognition' and re-iterated their strong support for the recognition of Traveller Ethnicity.
Recognition of Travellers Ethnic Status has previously been supported by British courts, by the Irish Human Rights Commission, by a recent report on Racism signed by over Forty Four Non-Governmental organizations and indeed by the UN.
In March of 2005, the UN Committee on the Elimination on Racial Discrimination (CERD) invoked the "Principle of self-identification" and recommended that the Irish Government "work more concretely towards recognizing the Traveller community as an Ethnic group".
Describing the week as "a very welcome celebration of Traveller's history, culture, heritage and on-going contribution to Irish life" Alice-Mary Higgins of Comhlámh also emphasized that the week was "an opportunity for the Government to take real steps towards improving its record around Travellers rights". "Recognition" would she suggested "be a step in the right direction".
Comhlámh
ICCL
Dominican Justice Office
Further queries or information please contact:
Alice-Mary HigginsAnti-Racism Project
Comhlámh
10 Upper Camden Street
Dublin 2
Phone 01-4783490
Issued by Pavee Point Travellers' Centre, 46 North Great Charles Street, Dublin 1.