A TOTAL OF 67 incidents of racism have been reported to the Immigrant Council of Ireland since the start of the year, according to new figures released today.
The figure represents a sharp increase on the same period last year when 20 such reports were received. However, the increase may be partly as a result of an awareness campaign launched by the group this time last year.
Of the total figure, under-18s were the focus in 26 per cent of cases. Almost a third of incidents happened either at work or in school or college.
The ICI gives the breakdown as follows:
In terms of the type of incidents reported: 37 per cent were classified as ‘verbal harassment’, 28 per cent concerned discrimination and social exclusion, 15 per cent physical violence, 12 per cent written harassment and 7 per cent property damage and racist graffiti.
“The breakdown of cases shows that racism can occur in any place even where people would expect the protection of employment law or school and college anti-bullying policies,” CEO of the group Denise Charlton said.
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