Summit on Sectarianism
First Minister Jack McConnell
Second Summit on Sectarianism
Glasgow
December 12, 2006
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Sectarianism has been a shameful fact of life in our country for too long now.
Too many have seen and experienced sectarian violence and abuse - in our streets, our football grounds - and in our workplaces too. Successive generations have been born into a life of misguided suspicion and intolerance of others in their communities.
The truth is that sectarianism is completely out of step with the 21st century and the kind of modern, competitive and diverse Scotland we are building.
Over the last seven and a half years, our country has been transformed for the better by devolution.
In education, growing our economy, reducing poverty, delivering justice and improving our health, there can be no doubt that we are making a difference for future generations.
Today, we are being recognised around the world for our success in welcoming in-migrants with ambition to live, work and settle here. And we are being recognised too for our co-operation agreement with Malawi - and the compassion we have shown to some of the world's poorest people.
On these, and so many other fronts, we are earning a reputation as a country of tolerance, openness and compassion.
But, we will only cement that reputation - and succeed as a modern, prosperous nation - if we can learn to celebrate our own diversity and tradition and eradicate the shame of sectarian behaviour.
Progress
That's why I first convened this summit in February 2005.
Before that historic meeting, many who took part had never even met before.
We represented different interests. We came from different backgrounds, different faiths and religious traditions, and different walks of life.
But, we were all leaders. And we knew we had to act.
So, today I want to thank you. It's because of your commitment that we've been able to make so much progress in delivering the 18 actions that we set out in our Action Plan on Sectarianism in January this year.
We've moved forward in all four areas covered by the plan - marches and parades, education, sport and faith. And we have done it by respecting traditions, but also respecting each other much more too.
The right to march is a clear sign of a robust democracy - but we need to ensure that the rights of our communities are respected too. So we've listened carefully to the Orr report - and we have accepted its recommendations.
We've introduced tough new legislation on marches and parades to ensure that they are organised and run in ways that are fit for the 21st century. And today we're launching final guidance for local authorities and a report on how Sir John's recommendations should be taken forward.
We will ensure that communities are consulted and that those who try to use legitimate and peaceful marches as a cover for violence are no longer able to do so.
We're supporting important research by the Scottish Trades Union Congress to tackle sectarianism in the workplace - and we are working with the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations to help our grassroots voluntary groups work together to do their bit in stamping out sectarian attitudes in Scotland.
Our churches are setting a fantastic example - sending out the message loud and clear that religion should never be used as an excuse for bigotry.
Our schools are bringing young people together to strengthen communities, and understand each other more.
And of course, in sport, football has always been a particular focus for sectarianism - and there's no doubt that we're now making progress in addressing that.
We've introduced football Banning Orders to help the authorities ban sectarian louts from games and meeting places throughout the country.
But the old firm and our other leading clubs have taken unprecedented - and high profile - steps to tackle the worst, the most offensive and bigoted behaviour.
And today we're launching - with the Scottish Football Association and sportscotland - a new agreed plan to tackling sectarianism in football. I want to congratulate you for that.
The next phase
We have made progress on all these fronts - but, as we move into this second phase of action on sectarianism, I believe that we must raise the bar.
We no longer pretend in Scotland that sectarianism doesn't exist. It is now openly acknowledged as a problem that we are committed to solving together. Our efforts will be assisted by growing the economy, better opportunities, action on anti-social behaviour, and community regeneration.
The challenge for us now is to show people - and, particularly, our young people - that there are alternatives to the mindless sectarian abuse and violence that have held our communities back in the past, and the attitudes which lie behind them.
It is only by replacing these attitudes with a more positive understanding that we will ever be able to call full-time on bigotry and ignorance.
We all need to be in this for the long term.
And we all need to be focused on growing and building upon the hope we can already find in our schools and among our young people.
As every parent, teacher or religious leader knows, our children need guidance and encouragement to make the right choices - their own choices.
Education - from pre-school right through to further and higher education - has a crucial role to play in helping them to do that. Education has the power to create understanding and tolerance - to help to change the unacceptable attitudes, language and behaviour that are passed on through generations.
We've already made great strides in education - working with schools, universities and youth workers to make a difference with our young people.
The entries for the One Scotland award at this year's Scottish Education Awards showed that there's excellent work going on in Scottish schools. All over the country, bright young Scots are promoting the anti-sectarian message out in their schools and communities, the massive response to the green-blue wristbands proves they care.
Over the past year, we've done a great deal to support and to enhance that work. We've provided funding to our local authorities to develop more projects that promote understanding and awareness among tens of thousands of Scottish pupils.
We've promoted twinning between denominational and non-denominational schools - and we've used the power of drama and other activities to bring youngsters together.
We've worked with older students too, including supporting NUS Scotland's anti-sectarian initiative.
Already thousands of students have signed pledges to challenge sectarianism and bigotry - on their campuses and in their communities. And many of them will be tomorrow's leaders, in education, in the professions, in business and in our communities.
Conclusion
Young people have been quick to embrace the anti-sectarian agenda and this, I believe, is where real hope lies for the future - and where our efforts should now be focused. Our summit reconvenes this morning and I am optimistic that we shall do so.
We have the legal support and the local structures in place to deal with bigotry - whenever and wherever it rears its head. But, now is the time for us to focus on creating a Scotland which - at its very heart - is free from sectarianism.
A Scotland where those from different faiths and traditions can celebrate their past, and their beliefs, without a minority exploiting differences to promote hatred and abuse.
That is our goal. A Scotland where we celebrate diversity, and create a modern, 21st century country.
And, I've no doubt that through the efforts of everyone in this room - and through the ongoing support of our young people - we can create that modern Scotland - free of sectarianism - for future generations.
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