Travelling Communities
Support for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities to ensure protection from discrimination; that their culture, history and lifestyle are acknowledged, protected and supported within every demographic of Scotland; and that they are enabled to access culturally appropriate healthcare, education, accommodation and employment provision.
ALBA notes with concern that:
- Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities have the worst outcomes of any minority ethnic group across a range of areas, including education, health, employment, criminal justice and hate crime.
- In Europe and England, the suicide rate for members of the Irish Traveller community is six times higher than the general population yet there is little Scottish specific data on the health outcomes of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities which impacts on provision of appropriate support.
- There is no cohesive approach to providing, or granting planning applications for, permanent and halting sites for use by the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma and Showmen communities or any requirement for Councils to ensure any planning applications for such sites are treated sensitively or viewed in the context of a country-wide lack of provision.
Conference reaffirms the Alba Party’s commitment to:
- Uphold protections already provided in law for the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.
- Hold substantive dialogue with Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and other nomadic communities to ensure education, accommodation, employment and healthcare needs are adequately addressed
- Campaign for adequate culturally appropriate accommodation provision across all Council areas, said provision to be included in all residential areas of Local Plans rather than excluded to industrial sites
- Ensure every child receives adequate education support to guarantee continuity of provision whether their lifestyle is settled, peripatetic or nomadic
- Challenge discriminatory reporting in the mainstream media or social media, and work with journalism bodies to encourage best practice in reporting of the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and other nomadic communities
- Respect the different employment patterns and opportunities within these communities and work to dismantle existing barriers to their feasibility.
ALBA calls for:
1. A comprehensive survey of health, education and accommodation outcomes for the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and other nomadic communities.
2. A zero-tolerance approach to discriminatory language and practices against Gypsy, Traveller and Roma in healthcare, education, criminal justice, accommodation and the media.
3. A commitment to a cohesive and culturally sensitive plan for nation-wide provision of permanent and halting sites.
