The Traveller Movement report: The Last Acceptable Form of Racism?

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people continue to experience significant prejudice and discrimination. A recent report suggests education providers have an opportunity to address the lack of understanding and cultural awareness that often fuels this prejudice. What do you do?

The Traveller Movement report, ‘The last acceptable form of racism?’ explores Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people’s experience of prejudice and discrimination.

In the forward to the report, Baroness Sal Brinton says:

‘The pervasive discriminatory behaviour directed toward Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people is borne out of ignorance and is usually based on ill-informed cultural stereotypes. This lack of understanding or cultural awareness causes significant damage to the trust Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have in British society; and perhaps understandably leads to them withdrawing from the support and services they desperately need. This is precisely why education is so important. Prejudice and hate is not a characteristic we are born with: it is a learned behaviour.

The report makes a number of recommendations, including:

• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month should be supported by the Department for Education and rolled out across education providers in the UK
• Discrimination and harassment training programmes in workplaces should refer to derogatory comments about Gypsies, Roma and Travellers as potential disciplinary offences
• Relevant policies such as E&D policies, safeguarding policies and disciplinary policies should make explicit mention of discrimination and harassment against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller staff and students

You can download the report here