Governance for implementation

Privilege (or “white privilege”) is when the majority of decision makers who are white do not take into account the automatic privileges – of position, resources, influence, authority and historical beliefs – on superiority and inferiority in decision-making, and the ways in which these can disadvantage Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people. We acknowledge that the narrative around white privilege can be complex for Gypsies, and Travellers and some Roma people. However, it should be acknowledged that they too are ethnic minorities who, in the Macpherson definition, experience institutional discrimination because of their culture and ethnic origin. Members of the Steering Group and the stakeholders who participated in the development of the Plan discussed the ways in which the Plan may alienate some members of the dominant community who may argue that very real problems faced by other people, for example white people from lower socio-economic groups, are not addressed by the plan. We recognise that many people face challenges and disadvantages and that COVID-19 is making this worse. There is a separate area of work, including the enactment of the socio-economic duty, being undertaken to address these issues.

It is important, though, that we challenge this divisive analysis, and do not see a competition between the desirability of support for white people who are disadvantaged and the promotion of fair and equitable policies for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Both are necessary and both can, and should, be achieved. There is a strong case for action on race and we have set out some key evidence of disparity in experiences and outcomes that demonstrate this in Section 2. Any progress on race discrimination is likely to result in fairer treatment for all disadvantaged groups by making systems fairer and more transparent and services more responsive and person-focused.

In short, the Welsh Government wants to make Wales a more equitable, anti-racist country.