News & Events
Newsshopper: Sunday 7th February 2010
THE director of Bexley’s newly created diversity and equality council has warned candidates in the looming borough and general elections not to play into the hands of right-wing parties. Lux Anandarajah says candidates must avoid making immigration and asylum seekers an election issue.
He said: “It has always been a cowardly political practice to create fears about the most vulnerable groups in British society in an attempt to win political power.” It is a plea he made during the last elections and he says Bexley is now faced with more and more right-wing influences which, in different forms, are “encroaching in disguise on our society, with legitimate political acceptance”.
Mr Anandarajah fears candidates may exhibit their weakness and play into the hands of right-wing parties by ignoring the needs of marginalised and vulnerable communities, to score a political victory. It is expected the British National Party will field its largest number of Bexley candidates in May’s borough elections. In January last year, a BNP candidate failed to win a seat on Bexley Council in the East Wickham ward by-election by just eight votes from the Tories.
Mr Anandarajah said: “I think if politicians have any genuine desire to serve their people and their constituency with impartiality, they should have the courage to face up to illegitimate political and ideological challenges.”
He criticised the new Single Equality Bill currently going through Parliament, saying it has “created more ambiguity about addressing inequality, than promoting equality”. Mr Anandarajah added: “The reality of the present situation in the nation as a whole is the equality we all worked hard to address is on the verge of slipping into irrelevance, just because rightwing elements are challenging the actions of right-minded politicians for their efforts in eliminating discrimination.”
He also warned any action or inaction of authorities which amounts to the ignoring of the legitimate needs of marginalised sections of Bexley’s community, may build up resentment which could take years to dispel and could have serious political consequences. Mr Anandarajah added: “I would request all the candidates in the general and local elections to be politically courageous, truthful, genuine and above all to give hope for a strong, cohesive and harmonious society of diverse individuals and communities in Bexley.”
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Bexley Council for Equality and Diversity's
contribution at global level
Bexley Council for Equality and Diversity (BCED) has done much more than many States of
the world in implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA)
says G.A.Lux.Anandarajah, the Director of BCRE in his speech to the UN Durban
Review Conference held in Geneva between 20th and 24th April 2009.
Mr.Lux made three presentations:
First, to the Inter-sessional Intergovernmental Open ended Working Group held in
November 2008, about the work of BCED as a Model of Best Practice to be shared
with every State, Government, Semi and Non Governmental Organisation and Civil
Society Organisation of the world; the presentation highlights the development
of strategies and the mode of implementing them as action points in addressing
racism at the Local Government level, by the local education authority, the
police, the local authority, the criminal justice system and every other
relevant stakeholder.
Secondly, to the 3rd Substantive Session of the Preparatory Committee Meeting on
17th April 2009, on BCED’s work in forging closer working relationship with the
local government, the police and the 3rd sector in developing strategies to
combat racism, and in providing help, and support for the statutory bodies to
address racism effectively and to improve on race relations and diversity, and
the importance of willingness on the part of the local government to effect
meaningful changes to improve on race relations. Mr. Lux also highlights the
impact of anti-terror initiatives on race relations and that a few member States
are using the Anti-Terrorism campaign to persecute their own ethnic minority
citizens. He further reiterates the essential need for the United Nations to
work for the “PEOPLE” and not just for the “STATES” in order to provide life to
the Charter of the United Nations and it’s founding reason.
Thirdly, in his final speech addressing the Assembly on 24th April
Mr.Lux.Anandarajah said that he was proud to state that Bexley Council for
Racial Equality has done much more in implementing the DDPA than many
participating States in effectively addressing racism in ways of reducing racial
discrimination and harassment and in improving racial equality, and diversity.
Highlighting the fact that we in Britain have the best legal provisions on earth in addressing racism, and the that we are improving on it by including other equality strands such as Age, Gender, Disability, Religion and Sexual Orientation too along with race, he further stated that we, not only work to eliminate racial discrimination and harassment, but also as a statutory requirement promote equality and diversity. He emphasised that Bexley is ahead of all in implementing them and the DDPA in Britain and many states of the world.
Mr.Lux took the opportunity to highlight and condemn the atrocities committed
by many authoritarian regimes against humanity by way of engaging in genocidal
activities against their own ethnic minority citizens. He further urged the
United Nations to intervene in stopping such states from massacring their
defenceless citizens.
Stating that our world has moved beyond mono ethnic, mono linguistic and mono
religious collectivities, and that our present society is composed of a fusion
of cultures, religions and languages and abilities moving beyond geographically
defined boundaries and physically recognisable limitations; Lux demanded the
need for a renewed thinking on National and Global Leadership which could give a
genuine hope for harmonious coexistence, social integration and economic
conditions. Mr.Anandarajah added that to lead such diverse conditions of our
present society we needed a new kind of leadership with vision and innovation.
Finally Mr.Lux ended his speech by requesting the President and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to improve their engagement with the Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), as they are the implementers of Equality and Human Rights at the grass root level.
See supporting documents above.
A five member high-level governmental delegation from Taizhou City, Zhejiang, China high visited BCED on 8th December 2008 to learn about the internationally known work of BCED.
Learning from the Website and through recommendation, the delegation chose to visit BCED to learn about how it works as the voice of the marginalized people, and at the same time, help the local government in shaping policies, strategies and practices to overcome disadvantage while monitoring the local government in effectively implementing their legal requirement to address inequality.
Talking to the delegation, Mrs. Jasminder Sidhu, the welfare benefits advice officer of BCED explained to them about the Welfare and Social Security Benefits System and how she helps people who are disadvantaged through a variety of reasons in obtaining for them their legitimate entitlements.
Addressing the administrative delegation, Mr. Lux.Anandarajah, the director of BCED explained how the work of BCRE addresses eradication of poverty and improve the financial independence of individuals by providing advice, help and support in obtaining their entitlements, and in some cases by appearing for them in tribunals and courts. He also told the delegation of the legal advice, casework support and help under equality enactments, financially supported by Equality and Human Rights Commission, provided by BCED. Lux further highlighted the innovative work BCED does in influencing policies and practices in promoting human rights; to eliminate discrimination specifically racial, religious and disability discrimination; and promoting equality and diversity and multi-culturalism. Mr.Lux clarified to the delegation as to how the democratic process was being practiced and implemented in the multiple roles he played in dealing with institutions both statutory and voluntary, while having the concerns of the communities at the core.
The members of the delegation were very interested in learning from Mr.Lux as to how he worked on the multiple role of:
a) Acting as the voice of the marginalized people of the borough in highlighting their needs at a critical role;
b) Working with and supporting other voluntary sector organisations, community organisations and groups;
c) Working with religious organisations and groups in bringing about improved understanding, tolerance and greater harmony within and between them and within the society itself;
d) Monitoring the effective implementation of equalities legislations and anti-discriminatory policies and practices of the local government and the police and other statutory bodies such as the Primary Care Trust;
e) Providing advice, help and support to the local government and the local police in shaping their strategies, policies and practices and in promoting human rights.
As a token of appreciation for the wonderful talk given by Mr.Lux, the head of the delegation presented a scroll of Chinese art in silk from the city of Taizhou and extended an invitation to Mr.Lux to visit their city.
Belmarsh, the Highest Security prison in Britain requests BCED for help in improving Race relations within their establishment.
In a meeting held in early October 2008 with Lux.Anandarajah, the director of BCED, the Manager and the Deputy Race Equality Officer of Belmarsh Prison Service said that the Governor and the staff of the service were very eager to work with him in improving Race Equality within their establishment. They requested Mr.Lux to visit the organisation, attend their meetings and monitor the present policies and practices the prison service follow, and provide advice, help and assistance in improving Race Equality.
Having attended the first meeting with the management Mr.Lux indicated his willingness to continue his attendance in their meetings and advised that they will have to go beyond race equality to embrace other equality strands and human rights in general while maintaining the importance of Race Equality as race has multiple implications and also because racism and racial divides are human constructs devised to dehumanize certain sections of the human race.
Even though little has been implemented by the UK National Government or its semi-governmental or non-governmental departmental body, the then Commission for Racial Equality at the national level, Bexley Council for Racial Equality has painstakingly took upon its shoulders to take steps to implement the Declarations and Programme of Action produced by the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), pertaining to the local authority area to address local issues with a global dimension.
This has been achieved, and is continuing through very limited resources, but with extreme commitment and willingness with determination to work towards eliminating Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance from our midst.
I should emphasize that Enforcement of Legislative Instruments to penalise the perpetrators of Racism and related crimes is an essential element as a deterrent, but also important is raising awareness of the ills of Racism, its affect on both the social and economic interest of societies and nations, and, promotion of Anti-Racism, Communal Harmony and Human Rights practices; which most of the times we tend to ignore.
For the follow up action taken by BCED in its efforts in implementing the Declarations and Programme of Action adopted by the Durban Declarations (World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance) held in Durban, South Africa in 2001, BCED is accredited by the UN and invited to take part in the Durban Review Conference and its Preparatory Processes.
This is not only a great achievement, but also a great recognition of the highest order for BCED’s genuine efforts, effective and efficient measures taken, in the implementation of the international recommendations taken on board by over 159 countries of the world, for local implementation.
It is to be noted that BCED is the only known Race Equality Council and probably the only Non-Governmental Organisation in the UK, to have taken such steps in strategic implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of WCAR in working towards the elimination of Racism and Promotion of Equality and Diversity especially in its area of benefit (Bexley).
