hate crimes working group agm chairperson’s report 2014 11 february 2015 | scalabrini centre, cape...
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HATE CRIMES WORKING GROUP AGM
Chairperson’s Report 2014
11 February 2015 | Scalabrini Centre, Cape Town
Our objectives for 2014?
• Address the dearth of accurate data on the prevalence,
nature and psychological impact of hate crimes on
individuals, communities and society, across sectors
• Advocate for the relevance of hate crimes legislation in
South Africa
• Grow the HCWG in terms of both structure and size
Active, committed Steering Committee
Members of the Steering Committee, 2014:Ingrid Lynch (Triangle Project) ChairJohan Nel (OUT)Iole Matthews (IPT) SecretaryAlfani Yoyo (CoRMSA)Tracy Doig (Amnesty International)Angelica Pino (Sonke Gender Justice)Cory Johnson (Scalabrini Centre )Janine Shamos (SAJBD)Anthony Waldhausen (Gay & Lesbian Network)Jean Misago (ACMS)
Research Sub Committee:Juan Nel, Yolanda Mitchell, Ella Kotze, Khonzi Mbatha
Overview
• Six Steering Committee meetings
• Two member organisations
participating in DOJ&CD NTT
• Implementation of the Hate and Bias
Crime Monitoring Form – finalised
and being used to build a baseline
(Full report to follow)
Training workshops
Joint workshops with staff and service users: • CoRMSA (refugee, migrant, foreign national organisations)• SAJBD (religious, faith-based organisations)• SWEAT, TP, Scalabrini (LGBTI, refugee, sex work representatives)
Aimed at:• Awareness-raising regarding nature and prevalence of hate crime• Identifying incidents of hate crime• Documenting hate crimes using Hate & Bias Crime Monitoring Form
Other provincial activities
• Gay & Lesbian Network
(Pietermaritzburg)
• Exhibition and panel discussion
• Create awareness, encourage
individuals and communities to take
initiative to report incidents
• Good media coverage
Other provincial activities
• Joint initiative between HCWG,
Durban Holocaust Centre, the
Victor Daitz Foundation
• Screening of A snake gives birth
to a snake & panel discussion, in
Durban, 21 Oct 2014
Psychological Society of South Africa symposium
• Symposium at PsySSA Congress
• Civil society, mental health
professionals, researchers
• Building research agenda
Liaison with international bodies
• Invitation to present panel discussion at
International Network for Hate Studies
conference: Research, policy and
practice in the UK
• Resulted in contribution of chapter,
Hate crime in transitional
communities: The case of South Africa
to edited book, “The Globalisation of
Hate: Internationalising hate crime?”
Revamp of the website
• Our own website address – www.hcwg.org.za
• Downloadable Hate & Bias Crime Monitoring Forms
• Online MF now available
• Links to all members
• Links to media coverage
& reports
2014 media coverage
Tracking HC media coverage via Meltwater News (supported by SAJBD)
We continue to receive print media interview and requests
A Media Breakfast was held on 22nd October 2015
Social media: Facebook page – Hate Crimes Working Group SA
o From 51 followers in June 2013 to 118 in Jan 2014 to 160 Jan 2015 –
growing slowly but steadily
o Sharing news and updating members
2015 plans?
• Build further momentum with Hate and Bias Crime Monitoring Form
• Increase formal research support (coordinator, capacity at NGOs)
• Dissemination of emerging findings, increased member involvement
• Refine advocacy strategy
• Increase policy engagement and support in the process of finalising
hate crimes legislation