Key considerations in developing the Goals

Cindy’s words signal the distrust felt by ethnic minority people, a lack of trust that public services and authorities will proactively enforce their rights; rights that may be enshrined in legislation, but have “limited or no impact on our lives” as one partner organisation suggested. Yet for ethnic minority groups, these rights have long-since been earned, by participating in the economy, in the health and other ‘front line’ services, and by risking their own and their families’ lives, both historically and today. Are organisations responding? The on-line discussions we have undertaken since the summer of 2020 have left us in no doubt that many groups feel that many public, private and third sector organisations have not met their obligations to dismantle systemic and institutional racism. Conversely some services have risen to the challenge, by asking what they can do and responding to the call for action. The recent work by the National Library for Wales / Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru and the Welsh Government to decolonise the Library’s cultural assets and working practices is one example.

Government response: in summer 2020, Jane Hutt MS, The Deputy Minister responsible for Equalities, asked officials to develop an “ambitious and radical” Race Equality Action Plan (the Plan). She invited Professor Emmanuel Ogbonna from Cardiff University to co-chair a Race Equality Action Plan Steering group (Steering Group), with Dame Shan Morgan, the Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government. Membership and terms of reference were agreed, as in Appendix 1.

This draft Plan has been co-created with many community, public, private and third sector partners, and is now being issued for consultation. We aim to launch and publish the final version in September 2021.