The following are the focussed recommendations which we consider
have emerged, and which we have extracted from the submissions
made during the hearing.
Recommendations
From a Muslim perspective.
1-The Western Library & Education Board should provide books
and other educational materials which may help children to gain
knowledge about Islam.
2 - That provision is made for classes on Islam as an option for
children and adults
3 - That Derry City Council provide assistance in establishing
a Community Centre in which the needs of the Islamic community
can be met, and inter-faith exchanges can take place.
4 - That Derry City Council give priority to the provision of
a burial ground for the local Muslim community.
From a parent of an adult with learning difficulties
5 - That the Health and Social Services Boards and the Education
and Library Boards embark on a public awareness-raising strategy
in relation to the needs of adults with mild learning disabilities.
6 - That the statutory agencies actively encourage the identification
of young adults with mild learning disabilities as a separate
minority group with their own distinct needs.
7 - That the Education and Social Services authorities set up
a referral scheme to facilitate entry of young adults with a mild
learning disability into local groups and agencies.
From Foyle Homeless
8 - That future housing policy be formulated around the principal
of a universal right to a safe and secure home.
9 - Retrograde changes in housing and other benefits which will
act to increase the problem of homeless people should be opposed
by all public bodies and public representatives.
10 - That the housing authorities stop reducing public housing
stock, and build more public housing, since reductions in public
housing stock have negative implications for homeless people
11 - That the housing authorities re-evaluate the new type of
tenant in the housing market, and make provision for a mixed culture
of housing provision, aimed at establishing a variety of tenant
types in any future housing development.
12 - That the Northern Ireland Housing Executive consult at an
early stage in planning with representatives of homeless people
about the kind and type of new housing provision.
From the North West Visually Impaired Association
Shopping
Transport
15 - Public transport vehicles should be more accessible e.g.
steps are often too high.
Public Information
Banking
Prescriptions
Traffic Lights
Public Highway / Footpaths From The Rainbow Trust
21 - HIV and AIDS awareness and education work should be properly
resourced in order to enable the continuation and expansion of
HIV and AIDS education in homes, schools, social venues and in
workplaces.
22 - Research is required into the effects of HIV/AIDS in the
North West. Research into safe sexual practices in the wider community
is also required.
23 - A forum should be established where family members and carers
of people living with HIV/AIDS or those who may have experienced
a loss due to an AIDS related illness can come together and share
experiences.
24 - More networking with statutory, voluntary, community and
other minority groups who share the same aims and objectives (on
prevention, education and research into the HIV virus) should
be facilitated by the statutory authorities.
From a Lesbian/Bisexual perspective
25 - Anti-homophobia training should be established within the
police force, civil service, health authorities and education
authorities, and amongst the staff who would come into contact
with gay people in their professional and working lives
26 - A community police force which is effective in protecting
the gay and lesbian community against homophobic attacks is urgently
required. When such attacks do take place, this police force should
be capable of thoroughly investigating all complaints of the gay
and lesbian community and prosecuting perpetrators.
From the North West Forum for People with Disabilities
27 - The Department of Environment should improve access to the
public buildings and places and provide a public transport system
which is accessible to all citizens.
28 - That Derry City Council review their service provision for
example sport and leisure amenities.
29 - The Western Education and Library Board provide inclusive
education which serves the needs of disabled people. 30 -The Western Health and Social Services Board improve their service to people with
disabilities. e.g. shorten the time span on Occupational Therapist
waiting list for aids and equipment and provide services locally
so people with disabilities do not have to travel to Belfast for
consultations.
31 - The Training and Employment Agency should ensure that people
with disabilities are not discriminated against in employment.
Also the T&EA should provide services to assist people with
disabilities to compete equally on the open labour market.
32 - The Department Health and Social Services should provide
their information in a manner which is accessible to all i.e.
large print, audio cassette, computer disk, braille, video tape
for deaf people, appropriate language for people with learning
disabilities. They should also promote their services to everyone.
33 - The Northern Ireland Housing Executive should provide more
accessible housing for people with disabilities.
From the Fountain Area Partnership
34 - That the situation of Protestants living in the Fountain
be regarded as an issue of minority rights, and that the majority
in the city, and their representatives, should strive to respect
and protect the rights of people who continue to live in the Fountain.
35 - Statutory authorities should recognise that facilities may be needed within the Fountain to serve small numbers of people who live there, because of the enclave nature of the community.
36 - Funding applications for projects in the Fountain should
be regarded favourably, and funding allocation should not be decided
on a per capita basis, because of the decline in population in
the area.
From a young Protestant woman
37 - That the name of the city be recognised as Londonderry as
well as Derry.
38 - That night clubs become safe places for all individuals,
including Protestants.
39 - That all streets are made safe for everyone, irrespective
of religion, and that the right to walk on the street without
being called names related to one's religion is affirmed.
40 - That the right of Protestants to live in their homes without
fear is affirmed
From Hearing Concern
41 - That public awareness of the needs of hard of hearing people
(as distinct from the needs of deaf people) be increased.
42 - A range of services designed to meet the needs of hard of
hearing people should be put in place. These range from proper
professional help to graphic advertising and loop systems in public
places.
43 - Public bodies should provide appropriate facilities for lip
reading in order to serve those members of the public who are
hard of hearing.
From a secular perspective
44 - An integrated state education system should be established.
Religion should be seen as a private matter, and the religious
education of children should be regarded as the sole responsibility
of parents.
45 - Individuals, voluntary and state sectors should accept humanism
as a viable and sufficient value base for community life.
46 - That the presumption of "Christianity" be avoided.
47 - That facilities for non-religious ceremonies and celebrations
be made available by the civil authorities, for example, a crematorium.
From Foyle Friends
48 -That public bodies, community and voluntary groups and other
organisations should take responsibility for raising their own
awareness of lesbian and gay issues by, for example, inviting
representatives of the lesbian and gay groups to address their
organisations.
49 - The City Council should establish a building which would
be designated for the use of local lesbian and gay groups.
From a parent of a child with disability
50 - Proper local provision for people with disabilities in housing,
education, access, transport, finance, health and welfare and
facilities for leisure and sport should be established.
51 - A disability officer should be jointly appointed by the public
bodies to monitor disabled people's access to existing services
and to implement any special recommendations in relation to disability
services.
From the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i community of Londonderry
52 - The work and remit of the Community Relations resources of
Derry City Council should be widened to encompass the true extent
of religious diversity in the city, a move which would be to the
benefit of all the people of the district, including those of
the two major traditions.
53 - We call on Derry City Council to embark on consultation with
local people as part of the United Nations Post-Global Summit
Programme with a view to establishing a local "Agenda 21"
which will carry the development of Derry into the 21st century.
This should be done as a matter of urgency and in a way which
will lead to that genuine grassroots empowerment of communities
which is a key element of the "Agenda 21" process.
From Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Equality
54 - That the city and the appropriate bodies therein note the
existence of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Equality
the purpose of which is to value and sustain ethnic difference,
to ensure that North of Ireland has appropriate anti-racist legislation,
to ensure that anti-racist training and education is available
to promote the dissemination of advice and information about ethnic
and ethnic equality, to seek wider understanding of concern in
the field of ethnic equality. Other objectives would be to improve
the quality of life among minorities, to engage in, advise or
direct research which will have a positive impact on the lives
of minorities, to provide and/or facilitate advocacy support for
minority and ethnic individuals, to support victims of racial
harassment, to develop and implement an effective system to monitor
and address incidents of racial harassment.
From a member of the Men's Action Network
55 - That the dangerous nature of stereotypical roles for men
is noted, and how these damage the health of individual men, and
the quality of life for everyone.
56 - That the city and the appropriate bodies therein note the
existence of the Men's Action Network, which has the following
aims and objectives:
1. To stimulate the growth of community self help initiatives
among men in the North West area.
From the Travellers' Support Group
57 - That family housing units be provided by the appropriate
authorities for Travelling families
58 - That a community or social centre be provided in the city
for the use of the Travelling community
59 - That the City Council and the Courts rigorously examine and
monitor the conditions under which Public Entertainments and Liquor
licenses are issued to retailers in the city who actively discriminate
against Travellers
60 - That public representatives and public bodies use their influence
to ensure that any future anti-racist legislation which may be
introduced in Northern Ireland will include protection for the
Travelling community and outlaw discrimination against Travellers.
61 - That the Education and Library Boards re-examine the educational
needs of Travelling children and adults and, where necessary,
make special provision to meet those needs.
62 - That public bodies, including the City Council take responsibility
for raising the level of public education and understanding about
the Travelling community, and set in motion strategies to reduce
anti-Traveller racism in the city
From Meanscoile Dhoire
63 - That the Department of Education affirms parents' rights
to exercise a real and viable choice over the kind of school their
children attend.
64 - That the educational value of education in another language
is affirmed and recognised by the education authorities through
the provision of resources for such educational provision
65 - That bilingualism as a European trend, in which monolingual
children form the minority, is taken into account in the formation
future educational policy.
From the Women's Centre
66 - That the right of women to equal participation in public
life is affirmed by all public bodies, political parties and institutions.
That the goal of 40% female participation rates, agreed by the
British and Irish governments at the Bejing Conference in 1995,
is adopted by all bodies in the city, and strategies aimed at
achieving that goal are immediately designed and implemented.
67 - That statutory responsibility for funding personal development
work with women is allocated to a sympathetic government department,
and that resources and a strategy for developing this work is
put in place.
68 - That free on-site childcare is considered an essential part
of any education or training provision used by women, and resources
are released to make such provisions on a routine basis.
69 - That women's groups are properly resourced to carry on the
important work of women's development, and the contribution of
alternative settings for women's education is affirmed.
70 - That educational provision for women with learning difficulties
and women with literacy problems be urgently reviewed and improved.
71 - That gender-proofing is implemented on all Partnership Boards
and other public and community bodies.
From North West Hard of Hearing Group
72 - Derry City Council and other statutory bodies in the City
area should set up a community education programme focussed on
the situation of hard of hearing people in order that their needs
are more widely understood and appreciated.
73 - Some simple technical devices, such as loop systems should
be installed in all public buildings to assist those who are hard
of hearing.
From Gingerbread Northern Ireland
74 - In order to counteract the inadequacy of the current hostel
accommodation available to newly homeless single parents, the
housing authorities should ensure the availability of a supply
of self-contained flats for single parents and their children.
75 - Childcare facilities in the statutory and voluntary sector
should take account of the specific needs of single parents. More
childcare provision, using a sliding scale fee system, should
be available , and this should include after school and school
holiday provision.
76 - That the priority given to increasing the level of childcare
provision in the city as a whole is greatly increased by all public
and community bodies.
77 - Social Services should improve and extend their registration
of childminders in the city.
78 - Lone parents should be encouraged by Social Services to use
registered child minders.
From AWARE
79 - That more resources be devoted by the public, private and
voluntary sectors to dealing with depression as a major public
health issue.
80 - That public education initiatives about depression be developed.
81 - That the public note the existence of the local AWARE group
who offer support to both carers and to people suffering from
depression.
From Derry Wellwoman
82 - That all medical services in the city strive to extend their
understanding of the specific health needs of women.
83 - That all local organisations recognise that empowering women
to understand the health needs of their bodies and minds, and
those of their partners and children, can only do good for the
health of the community.
From Derry Chinese Community
84 - In recognition of the main problem faced by the Chinese community
in the city, the City Council and the Western Health and Social
Services Board (or other relevant body) should provide an interpreter
service for the Chinese community, so that they can properly access
other services such as health, education and welfare services.
From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
85 - That schools include and respect perspectives all religions
when teaching religion, either in Religious Education or in General
Studies
86 - That the education authorities take up the offer of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and those of similar churches
to give talks in schools about their religious perspectives, views
and beliefs, in order to promote a religious climate of inclusion
and mutual respect for diversity.
87 - That the practice of asking people what primary school they
went to as a means of determining their religion be abandoned,
and replaced with a simple question: "What religion are you?"
88 - That Derry City Council Cleansing Department provide assistance
with clearing up the consequences of the regular vandalism to
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
89 - That local voluntary organisations and volunteer-seeking
projects stop excluding members of the church from volunteer projects
on the basis of their church membership.
90 - That local public bodies should offer the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints the opportunity to participate in
consultations with the community in the planning of local amenities.
91 - That minority churches are included in discussions and exchanges
of views amongst the main churches.
92 - That church ministers and clerics should be encouraged to
be more open-minded and tolerant when their parishioners wish
to become members of another church.
93 - That members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints be afforded the same access to other church's records as
other individuals and groups in the community doing genealogical
research.
94 - That the local press be more supportive of church activities
and views by providing more coverage of church events and perspectives.
From a Sensory Support Service user.
95 - Attention should be given to the difficulties faced by deaf
people using the health services, especially to the danger of
mis-diagnosis due to communication difficulties.
96 - The availability of sign language, and teachers who are bilingual
should be drastically extended.
97 - Education and Training bodies should ensure that deaf school
leavers should have access to a range of courses so that deaf
people can lead full lives, and play a full part in the life of
their community.
Further Recommendations by Templegrove Action Research
98 - This report should be made available to the widest number
of people in the city. In particular, formal steps should be taken
to ensure that policy makers in the city receive and take note
of its findings.
99 - Every opportunity should be taken by policy makers such as
the DoE, The City Partnership and Derry City Council to consult
with the individuals and groups who made submissions to this hearing
when planning services upon which they have made comments here.
100 - The value of including the views of minorities in all planning
and public policy should be formally recognised. Proactive steps
taken to include minority views should be routinely taken in any
future consultation process
101 - The practice of holding 'hearings' should be adopted as
a means to increase public and official awareness of the diversity
of our city.
102 - Derry City Council, in conjunction with the City Partnership
Board, should routinely commission and publish further pieces
of action research on the general or specific experiences of minorities
in the city, as a means of informing public awareness on these
issues.
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