A report examined the strengths and weaknesses of existing policies and programmes aimed at tackling poverty and social exclusion among Roma in European Union countries, and made recommendations for future strategy.
Source: Hugh Frazer and Eric Marlier, Promoting the Social Inclusion of Roma, EU Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion (European Commission) | Gary Craig, United Kingdom: Promoting Social Inclusion of Roma - A Study of National Policies,
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the concept of 'white racism' in relation to the experiences of gypsy and traveller groups in England, based on ethnographic research in secondary schools during 2006-2009. The racism experienced by white gypsy and traveller groups was understood differently to that experienced by non-white minority-ethnic groups.
Source: Kalwant Bhopal, '"What about us?" Gypsies, travellers and "white racism" in secondary schools in England', International Studies in Sociology of Education, Volume 21 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
The coalition government announced that jobseekers who could not speak English would be required to take language courses or risk losing their benefits.
Source: Press release 13 September 2011, Downing Street
Links: Downing Street press release | DWP press release | Conservative Party press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined discrimination and racism towards ethnic, linguistic, national, and other minorities within Europe.
Source: Respect for and Protection of Persons Belonging to Minorities 2008-2010, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report | FRA press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the quality of life in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in 15 European Union countries. Living in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods contributed to higher levels of social isolation and ethnic tension, and a poorer quality of life.
Source: Rhys Davies, Clair Wilkins, Eric Harrison, Elissa Sibley, and David Owen, Quality of Life in Ethnically Diverse Neighbourhoods, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Date: 2011-Aug
The equality and human rights watchdog drew the attention of the United Nations to the key issues affecting race equality in the United Kingdom. Although progress had been made on some of the previous recommendations by the UN, there were still significant issues where more progress could have been made. One major area of concern was the discrimination faced by Roma, Gypsies, and Irish Travellers – particularly over site provision. Another major concern was the disproportionate use of stop-and-search powers by the police, particularly against young men from ethnic minorities.
Source: Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination on the UK s 18th, 19th and 20th Periodic Reports, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
A report highlighted persistent patterns of inequality between (on the one hand) migrants and minority-ethnic groups in the labour market and (on the other) the overall majority populations of European Union countries. In particular, migrant and minority-ethnic women faced significant structural disadvantages in the labour market.
Source: Migrants, Minorities and Employment: Exclusion and discrimination in the 27 member states of the European Union – Update 2003-2008, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report | FRA press release
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the short- and longer-term impacts of the work of the BAME Women Councillors Taskforce. The Taskforce was convened by the former Labour government in May 2008 to consider practical ways of encouraging black and minority-ethnic women to become local councillors.
Source: Creative Research, Evaluation of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women Councillors Taskforce, Government Equalities Office
Date: 2011-Jun
A series of studies examined the links between poverty and ethnicity.
Source: Helen Barnard and Claire Turner, Poverty and Ethnicity: A Review of Evidence, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Nii Djan Tackey, Helen Barnes, and Priya Khambhaita, Poverty, Ethnicity and Education, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Alison Gilchrist and Paul Kyprianou, Social Networks, Poverty and Ethnicity, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Maria Hudson and Dragos Radu, The Role of Employer Attitudes and Behaviour, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Lucinda Platt, Inequality Within Ethnic Groups, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Steve Garner and Gargi Bhattacharyya, Poverty, Ethnicity and Place, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Donald Hirsch, Viet-Hai Phung, and Esmeranda Manful, Poverty, Ethnicity and Caring, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Karen Chouhan, Stuart Speeden, and Undaleeb Qazi, Experience of Poverty and Ethnicity in London, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Bal Athwal, Mike Quiggin, Deborah Phillips, and Malcolm Harrison, Exploring Experiences of Poverty in Bradford, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report (Barnard) | Report (Tackey) | Report (Gilchrist) | Report (Hudson) | Report (Platt) | Report (Garner) | Report (Hirsch) | Report (Chouhan) | Report (Athwal) | JRF press release
Date: 2011-May
A study reviewed literature and datasets to establish the main patterns, themes, and issues from research on ethnicity and poverty in Scotland.
Source: Gina Netto, Filip Sosenko, and Glen Bramley, Poverty and Ethnicity in Scotland: Review of the literature and datasets, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2011-Apr
A study examined differences in the experiences of low income and poverty among people from minority-ethnic backgrounds in two different regions of Scotland. All participants associated poverty with limited choice and opportunities in accessing food, warmth, and accommodation.
Source: Philomena de Lima, Rowena Arshad, Alan Bell, and Tim Braunholtz-Speight, Community Consultation on Poverty and Ethnicity in Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2011-Apr
A report sought to identify the barriers faced by black and minority-ethnic lone mothers seeking to engage with their communities, and to highlight the approaches that were most effective in enabling them to overcome those barriers.
Source: Jobeda Khanum and Onjali Rauf, The BAME Lone Mother Equation: An examination of the barriers & enablers to empowerment for BAME lone mothers, Limehouse Project
Links: Report | Limehouse Project press release
Date: 2011-Apr
Data for 2010 showed that actors from minority-ethnic groups featured in only 5 per cent of television advertisements, compared with their 13 per cent share of the population.
Source: Press release 21 April 2011, Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
Links: IPA press release
Date: 2011-Apr
A collection of essays (by leading politicians and academics) examined the issue of race equality in Scotland.
Source: Robin Frampton (ed.), Achieving Race Equality In Scotland, Runnymede Trust
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Mar
A study reviewed literature and datasets to establish the main patterns, themes, and issues from research on ethnicity and poverty in Scotland. All minority-ethnic groups in Scotland appeared disadvantaged on one or more poverty indicators.
Source: Gina Netto, Filip Sosenko, and Glen Bramley, A Review of Poverty and Ethnicity in Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Findings
Date: 2011-Feb
A study examined experiences of poverty among people from ethnic backgrounds in Scotland. All participants associated poverty with limited choice and opportunities in accessing food, warmth, and accommodation. They also emphasized economic factors such as poor access to well-paid, secure employment.
Source: Philomena de Lima, Rowena Arshad, Alan Bell, and Tim Braunholtz-Speight, Community Consultation on Poverty and Ethnicity in Scotland, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Findings
Date: 2011-Feb
A report examined the effectiveness of target-setting to improve the socio-economic situation of migrants and ethnic minorities in Europe. It said that consideration should be given to setting a European Union-level target (and at the very least, national targets) to reduce migrant poverty using EU-level indicators, such as the 'at-risk-of-poverty rate' and 'people living in jobless households'.
Source: Mary-Anne Kate, Target-Setting for Improving the Socio-Economic Situation of Migrants and Ethnic Minorities in Europe, European Network Against Racism
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the ambiguities and contradictions in the concept of 'institutional racism', and its validity as an explanatory concept for long-observed ethnic inequalities in educational attainment and the police use of stop-and-search powers. It argued for the retention of the concept – but only within a multilevel framework that incorporated 'racializations' operating at all levels.
Source: Coretta Phillips, 'Institutional racism and ethnic inequalities: an expanded multilevel framework', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 40 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan