Cardiff University academic leads on plan to make Wales an anti-racist nation

A plan to make Wales an anti-racist nation has been launched, drawn up by a group co-chaired by Cardiff University academic Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna.

Drawing on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities’ experiences of racism and race inequality, the Anti-Racist Action Plan sets out a series of actions focused on the next two years.

It focuses on the ways in which racism affects the lives of ethnic minority people, such as their experience of racism in everyday life, services available to them, their role within the workforce and the lack of visible role models in positions of power.

The goals and actions in the plan cover policy areas across government, including, health, culture, homes and places, employability, skills and education, as well as a focus on leadership and representation within the Welsh Government and across public services.

Following the launch, Professor Ogbonna, based at Cardiff Business School, said: “Today is a very important day in the history of Wales.  We have chosen to follow the path of anti-racism.  The full implementation of this plan will mean that the life chances of all people in Wales will not be determined by their racial and ethnic origin."

Tackling racism is part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt said: “The plan has been co-created with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, drawing from their lived experience and developed in collaboration with a wide range of communities and organisations across all parts of Wales and informed by evidence.

“We’re determined to ensure that this isn’t just an exercise in saying the right things. That’s why we have specific goals, aims and objectives, ranging from internal Welsh Government practises, to our ambitious policy changes across departments too.

“The actions set out in the plan will help promote a fairer employment market, a fairer education and training system, an equalising of racial opportunities and outcomes in health and other social services, and active citizenship.”