SHRG Objectives

Why did the Sikh Human Rights Group (SHRG) take part?

The Sikh Human Rights Group took part in the conference to ensure that the particular forms of discrimination faced by Sikhs, especially in the western countries (e.g. discrimination in employment on the basis of wearing the turban) are addressed as part of national and international policy and legislation. Moreover, we also wanted to contribute to the general debate on diversity and 'race', based on Sikh philosophy and bring to the attention of the conference the issues of institutional racism and discrimination towards refugees and asylum seekers.

The world conference against racism was attended by eleven members of SHRG, five from the U.K., five from Canada, and one from India. A small group of people in each of the countries met regularly for over a year prior to the conference to prepare the nature of its participation. The group participated in the three UN preparatory meetings in Geneva and one in Quito, Ecuador. Views from the Sikh community were sought informally and formally, through various consultation forums, in the UK, Canada, USA, and European countries (e.g. France, Belgium, Germany) during the preparations. A seminar on cultural diversity was held with UK based NGOs, academics, and practitioners at the Commission for Racial Equality. SHRG also held a seminar with some government representatives at the UN in Geneva.

The material gathered from consultations and seminars contributed to SHRG's preparatory work for the conference. The expertise of SHRG members attending the conference and the group's strategy of intensive lobbying of governments at the preparatory meetings in Geneva and at the conference led to very successful results for the Sikh community overall. In addition, SHRG's lobbying and intervention on the address of cultural diversity and diversity produced positive results as found in the Declaration and Programme of Action.

SHRG and Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Institutional Racism and Discrimination Towards Asylum Seekers and Refugees.

SHRG's lobbying and interventions on the address of institutional discrimination, discrimination towards asylum seekers and refugees and most importantly diversity and cultural diversity produced positive results as found in the Declaration and Programme of Action (For more detailed information contact the SHRG London office).

Diversity and Cultural Diversity
Throughout the process leading to the WCAR SHRG supported the position that all humanity is one and classifications are mostly artificial constructs that have emerged with the view to exclude and dominate. The discourse on racism and discrimination has for too long been defined by reference to colonial attitudes and reactions to those attitudes. There is a need to refocus our attention towards the exploration of the concept and practice of diversity is reflected in the essential equality and dignity of all human beings and their protection on the basis of the human rights principles. Within this, embracing cultural diversity is of particular importance especially for UK and the people of Asian descent where culture seems to be a crucial aspect of their identities. Cultural diversity concerns the harmonious and dialogic co-existence of majority and minority cultures on the basis of principles of equality, dignity and human rights. In this, the individual's cultural identity is protected and respected to the fulfilment of their individual freedoms.

Institutional Racism and Discrimination
In the McPherson Report on the inadequacy of the Metropolitan police investigation into the death of Stephen Lawrence, a black teenager killed by a gang of white youths in the UK, defines institutional racism as '.....the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional services to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in the processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through … prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racial stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.' (McPherson Report 2000, para 6.34).

Institutional racism or else indirect discrimination detrimentally affect a wide range of people belonging to minorities or ethnic, racial and religious groups. A powerful ingredient of institutional racism and discrimination are their dependency on negative stereotypes that are being reinforced through various social, economic and political structures, becoming this way institutionalised and thus legitimised. Most importantly, through this process, negative stereotypes are acted upon leading to the introduction and/or reproduction of discriminatory acts towards certain groups of people - usually the ones with distinct ethnic, religious or cultural identity.

With this in mind, SHRG pointed to the need to analyse this phenomenon further by identifying, examining and tackling its different forms, multiple causes and its serious effects on the lives of its victims.

Discrimination Towards Asylum Seekers and Refugees
As the numbers of asylum seekers and refugees increase world-wide, states become more and more reluctant to deal effectively with displacement and related discrimination. Restrictive migration and asylum policies; promotion and highly problematic implementation of policies of 'safe third country' and 'voluntary repatriation'; narrow interpretation of the 1951 Convention; public discourse's portrayal of asylum seekers and refugees as 'a threat to national security' and their discrimination and abuse in the receiving country, during deportation and upon their return to the country of origin; are only a few manifestations of intolerance and unequal treatment of people labelled as 'non-nationals'.

A mixture of complex and inter-related causes force people to flee and seek refuge. Instead, they are stigmatised, discriminated against, abused and criminalized. Throughout the WCAR, SHRG argued for a better system of protection of asylum seekers and refugees.

Two booklets were specially prepared by SHRG for the UN world conference against racism. The booklets are entitled 'State legislation affecting Sikhs' and 'Discrimination and Diversity', which were sponsored by Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Hounslow, UK and Punjab Times, UK. These and other SHRG publications are available from SHRG.