''Ireland's approach to migration and diversity must be invested in to ensure hatred has no place in Irish communities'' says the Immigrant Council of Ireland as it launches its 2022 Impact Report and Strategic Plan 2023-2028
''Ireland's approach to migration and diversity must be invested in to ensure hatred has no place in Irish communities'' says the Immigrant Council of Ireland as it launches its 2022 Impact Report and Strategic Plan 2023-2028.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland, a national non-governmental organisation and Independent Law Centre specializing in the support of migrant communities, has stated that Irish approaches to migration, integration and diversity must be continually developed to match the needs of the modern reality of migration. The organsiation, founded in 2001 by Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy, supports the migration and integration rights of Ireland’s diverse population and promotes a positive and human rights based approach to diversity in Ireland. In its Impact Report 2022, the Immigrant Council of Ireland recorded that it had:
· Responded to 5,953 calls in 2022 to its national telephone helpline service. Predominant issues included access to secure residency rights, family reunification, citizenship, freedom of movement within the EU and international protection.
· Provided free legal representation to 229 legal cases through its Independent Law Centre, of which 123 cases were new cases opened in 2022 and 106 were referred through formal referral pathways to pro-bono legal support in the private sector.
· Top issues receiving legal support involved: Supporting residency applications for victims of domestic violence, providing legal support to victims of human trafficking, supporting migrant and refugee family reunification, assisting unaccompanied child migrants and supporting migrants who are Stateless and those who are undocumented.
Commenting on its access to justice work, Immigrant Council CEO Brian Killoran said: ‘Its clear from the legal and information needs presented by our clients that the complexity and bureaucracy of the Irish immigration system continues to be an issue for those who have chosen Ireland as their new home. Though much work has been undertaken by the State to clarify and improve immigration policies and regulations, the landscape remains one where rights are difficult to access for many, and where the administrative cost of our immigration system works for neither the applicant nor the State. We urge the Department of Justice to continue the process of reform within the immigration system, and that the priority be to reduce bureaucracy, costs, and waiting times and to see migrants as permanent members of our communities. Migrant communities are in need of secure, long term rights to residency and family reunification which empower them and their families to progress through family life, employment, education, and many other areas the broader community may take for granted’
In its dedicated programmes to address migrant integration, the Immigrant Council worked with migrant communities in areas of political participation, migrant leadership, anti-racism and local and national level integration planning. Through these programmes the Immigrant Council:
· Supported the voice of migrant communities through its Migrant Leadership Academy, which saw 16 emerging leaders trained in community organizing, advocacy, media engagement, fundraising and other key areas.
· Supported 101 victims of racism to access redress.
· Worked with 25 Local Authorities to asses and progress local initiatives to promote migrant integration.
· Delivered 42 Anti-Racism trainings to 603 staff members of private and statutory agencies.
· Supported 6 aspiring migrant political representatives to learn about the local Irish political system through the Migrant-Councillor Internship Scheme.
· Conducted 14 Political Participation Workshops, training 260 people from a migrant background on their voting rights and the Irish political system. In addition, the Immigrant Council released a Toolkit, providing guidance and support to migrants interested in running for office in the 2024 local elections.
Commenting on this work Valeria Aquino, Integration Manager with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, stated: ‘One of the great joys of our work is to support those from a migrant background on their integration journey, whether it is challenging difficult areas such as racism, supporting their political aspirations, or making sure that the local and national policies we adopt in Ireland hear their voices and are shaped by their needs. One thing is for sure, the contribution of migrant communities to Ireland is immense, and their desire to contribute their skills and energies to make Irish communities a better, more equal place for all is undeniable’.
Brian Killoran added: ‘The shocking events of November 23rd in Dublin, where rioters voiced vitriolic hatred for migrant communities and destroyed property, show us that we must ensure that hatred and divisiveness do not take root in Ireland. Our call to the Irish government is this is the time to progress the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill and ensure there are adequate protections in law for those that face hate crimes. Our call to the Irish public is clear – do not believe the voices who want you to fear migrants, who question their motives, who paint a false narrative that they are taking more from Ireland than they are giving. Our work, and the work of countless organisations and communities across Ireland, demonstrates every day that migration has added so much to Ireland and supports the development of this country in ways that were unimaginable in the past. Yes the phenomenon of migration brings challenges, and there is an immense need for us to future-proof our approaches to migration and integration to ensure that we are adequately resourced and working in unison towards the common goal of addressing the needs of a growing population. But we must be clear in what we value as a country: we value diversity, we value human rights, and most of all we celebrate the success story that the diverse Ireland of 2023 represents. I am proud of the work we have done, and continue to do, in the Immigrant Council of Ireland and I thank our staff, supporters, allies, funders and friends’
The Strategic Plan 2023-2028 can be accessed here.
The Impact Report 2022 can be accessed here.
ENDS.
Contact: Fellipe Lopes, Communications Coordinator - communications@immigrantcouncil.ie
Notes to Editors:
About the Immigrant Council
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is the leading national human rights organisation working to defend migrant rights in Ireland. It provides free immigration advice and legal support through its helpline and law centre, as well as campaigning for immigration reform. The Council also provides support to victims of racism and human trafficking, and provides opportunities for migrants to connect with each other and their communities.
Visit www.immigrantcouncil.ie for more information.
Follow the Council on social media:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/immigrationIRL