Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - NI Manager, Nigel Worthington, Backs Unite Against Hate Campaign

03 September 2009

Northern Ireland manager, Nigel Worthington, is giving his backing to the new Unite Against Hate campaign in the build up to the crucial World Cup Qualifier in Poland this Saturday.

Unite Against Hate is a new multi-agency campaign supported by the Irish Football Association, Gaelic Athletic Association, World United, the EU, Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, Equality Commission, Community Relations Council, Northern Ireland Office Community Safety Unit and Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The campaign will challenge the prejudices which if left unchecked, can result in Hate Crimes which have recently affected people across Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland welcome is world famous. This campaign will provide opportunities for ordinary people to demonstrate their opposition to the mindless minority who carry out Hate Crimes.

Nigel said: “I am delighted that football in Northern Ireland is taking the lead supporting the Unite Against Hate campaign. Football For All is all about creating a more inclusive culture throughout Northern Ireland football and unbelievable progress has been made. Real football fans should love football and hate bigotry.”

All Carling Premiership clubs are supporting the campaign with teams warming up in Unite Against Hate t-shirts, Unite Against Hate messages being read out at games and Unite Against Hate banners being hung at stadiums.

Northern Ireland Boss Worthington Endorses New Football For All Training for Elite Players

Northern Ireland fledgling Internationals and potential stars of the future participated in EU funded Community Relations training through the Irish Football Association’s Football For All department during their August residential at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. Concept 11 Football For All Community Relations consultant David White alongside Football For All Volunteer Alan ‘Silver’ Ferris delivered presentations and interactive workshops exploring diversity and identity with over 100 boys and girls aged 11-15 years old.

Irish FA Community Relations Officer, Colleen Macauley explained: “These workshops provided us with an opportunity to educate the young players regarding the amazing work of the Northern Ireland fans in tackling sectarianism at international matches. It is vitally important that the superb family friendly atmosphere created at Windsor Park continues and strengthens and of course all the players can play their part in this too, as role models and fans.”

The workshops included footage of the Green and White Army – The Fans’ Story DVD which charts the journey undertaken by Northern Ireland football supporters to create the award winning environment it is today. Also included was DVD footage of current international players such as Sammy Clingan, Steven Davis and senior women’s captain Stacey Hall, discussing their experiences of international football and the importance of removing any barriers to inclusion whether political or religious.

Alfie Wylie, National Women’s Coach and Northern Ireland Under 21 Assistant Manager added his enthusiasm for the Community Relations training for all the young players. “Players play an important role in the promotion of Football For All. Their conduct on and off the field of play is important. It is important all our players are made aware of the Association’s efforts working in partnership with fans and volunteers to create an inclusive culture throughout Northern Ireland football. Community Relations training for our elite players is another important step forward for the Irish Football Association as we progress.”

Northern Ireland Manager, Nigel Worthington, took time out of his preparations for the World Cup Qualifier against Poland to endorse the Community Relations training for elite players: “We recently presented the Green and White Army DVD to the senior squad and the players have given interviews to support the development of Football For All educational resources which are promoting Good Relations in the community. I am very impressed with the IFA’s innovative work in the community. It is important all our players and all potential players feel happy and proud being a part of Northern Ireland football. We believe in Football For All and are doing all we can to make sure everyone can get behind our team.”

To support of find out further details about the campaign and planned events, look up www.uniteagainsthate.org.uk.

The Unite against Hate campaign has four main objectives:

To inspire and to unite: Change to a more tolerant and peaceful Northern Ireland is both desirable and possible. We need to have the optimism, hope and confidence that we can work together to bring it about.

To sensitise general public to the problem of hate crime and its real costs: Hate crime destroys the lives of all of us through the damage it does to the quality of life, our reputation and our economy.

To create a climate of zero tolerance for hate crime and discrimination: Hate crime is violent and wrong; it will not be tolerated. There is no room in Northern Ireland for sectarian, racist, homophobic, transphobic, religious or disability related hate crime which will be vigorously implemented through the promotion of equality and the enforcement of rights.

To promote diversity: Living with diversity is an integral part of modern life and we all need to take responsibility for creating an atmosphere where diversity is accepted as normal. We need to recognise benefits of diversity.

According to police figures during 2008-2009 (01 April 2008 to 31 March 2009) there were 771 racist hate crimes, 134 homophobic hate crimes, 35 faith/religion related hate crimes, 1,017 sectarian hate crimes and 28 disability related hate crimes hate crimes. Over the same period in 2007-2008 there were 757 racist hate crimes, 114 homophobic hate crimes, 62 faith/religion related hate crimes, 1,056 sectarian hate crimes and 42 disability hate crimes related hate crimes.

Statistics for hate crimes and clearance rates are available on the PSNI website

http://www.psni.police.uk/3._08_09_hate_incidents_and_crimes.pdf

A hate-motivated crime is defined as any incident that constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

The following motivation types are used to identify and categorise hate crime offences in Northern Ireland: racist motivation, sectarian motivation, homophobic motivation, disability motivation, faith motivation and transphobic motivation.