This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Stamping out sectarianism
26/06/2006
The National Union of Students today launched a new campaign to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.
First Minister Jack McConnell joined students at Strathclyde University, telling them it was important to raise awareness of the issue among Scotland's 500,000 students - five per cent of the total population - because they were very well placed to make a special contribution as groups and individuals in the fight against sectarianism.
He said:
"Sectarianism is an unacceptable part of Scottish life. Communities up and down the country have had enough of it, and it is time to stamp it out.
"We have made real progress since the historic summit on sectarianism. All of those who attended that summit, from the football clubs, to the police, from religious bodies, to antisectarian organisations, and the many others, have worked hard to address the problem.
"I am delighted to support Scotland's students in their national effort to stamp out sectarianism.
"As the NUS has pointed out, sectarianism does affect students in many ways, but it is also important to look at the valuable contribution students can make to tackle this problem in the future.
"Students move on from colleges and universities into almost every walk of life. Whether it be business, education, government, culture or elsewhere, they are going to have a major influence on Scotland's future.
"By raising awareness of sectarianism amongst this group, we raise the chances of removing it from Scotland forever."
An Action Plan to tackle Sectarianism was published on January 30.
Through different media and events, the NUS project will engage with student associations and the wider student body in Scotland. They will develop campaign materials, training events and workshops. And a website on which students can sign up to an online pledge to help challenge bigoted behaviour and attitudes. The Executive is providing £10,000 to support the campaign.
A summit on sectarianism was held on February 14, 2005. Since then a wide range of initiatives have been taken to tackle the problem of sectarianism including:
- modernising the way marches and parades should be handled by local authorities and including provisions in the Police, Public Order And Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill 2006 to make the organising of public processions more efficient and to give local authorities the power to take account of a wider range of factors when considering notifications
- The Executive has also established a Working Group on Marches and Parades to support the implementation of the recommendations of the Review of Marches and Parades in Scotland
- The FM launched the web-based education resource, Sectarianism: Don't Give It, Don't Take It, in March 2005
- In June 2005 the Executive hosted an Anti-Sectarian Education Conference for Education Authority officials and teachers
- In April 2005, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, showed her support at the launch of the Old Firm Alliance project and reinforced the message that it is through tangible, joint ventures such as this project that we can make a real difference to young people's attitudes which they can take through to adulthood
- In advance of the Old Firm match on 24 April 2005 Strathclyde Police provided 25,000 blue and green "Say No To Sectarianism" wristbands to promote the anti-sectarian message among school children in the Glasgow area
- As part of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill we are introducing Football Banning Orders which can be used to ensure that hooligans and those who indulge in the worst bigoted abuse are not able to attend games or visit venues for up to 10 years
- The Executive and Glasgow City Council are jointly running a three year inter-faith liaison officer pilot. The officer will be based in Glasgow City
- The Census Summary report Analysis of Religion in the 2001 Census was published by the Executive in March 2005. It explores the characteristics of each religion group in Scotland using information collected from the Census