Travellers and Roma in Ireland

Illustration by Malena Guerrero via femiñetas

Contributors

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre; Emily Williams, Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)

Summary

In Ireland, there is deep mistrust of, and lack of confidence in, An Garda Síochána – the Irish police service – by Traveller and Roma communities. This is perpetuated by discrimination which manifests in invasive over-policing of Traveller and Roma communities and by a lack of investment in social policy compared to the wider non-Traveller population. Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre is a leading national non-governmental organization (NGO) addressing racism and discrimination against Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. The organization seeks to promote Traveller and Roma human rights both within Ireland and in international arenas, through research, local action, national resourcing and policy advocacy. The work incorporates a community work approach based on the principles of human rights, equality, cultural diversity and interculturalism. This article explores how Pavee Point is pioneering a community development approach in its work by providing a holistic path towards addressing the consequences of over-policing within the Traveller community, with a focus on its work on drug policy, reducing contact with An Garda Síochána that may lead to discrimination or criminalization, and increasing avenues for community care.

Introduction

Travellers¹ and Roma² are some of the most marginalized and socially excluded groups in Ireland due to widespread anti-Traveller and -Roma prejudice, racism and discrimination at both individual and institutional levels.

In 2017, Ireland celebrated a historic moment, with the state formally acknowledging Traveller ethnicity³. This formal acknowledgement was the direct result of a 32-year campaign led by Pavee Point, alongside other Traveller organizations, who lobbied locally, nationally and internationally for state recognition. This work was supported by numerous UN treaty-monitoring bodies, European institutions, Irish equality and human rights bodies and two cross-party Oireachtas Committees.⁴

However, despite this, Traveller outcomes across all policy areas remain poor, with discrimination and violations of human rights experienced by Travellers manifested in significant differences in life expectancy between Travellers and non-Travellers.⁵

Life expectancy for Traveller men is 15.1 years and for Traveller women 11.5 years less than men/women in the general population.

The consequences of this systemic racism on both Travellers and Roma are complex, and manifest in problems across a range of social policy areas, including mental health, addiction and over-representation in the criminal justice system. Experiences of anti-Traveller and Roma discrimination are often intertwined with other forms of discrimination, such as discrimination based on gender and/or socioeconomic status.⁶ Pavee Point notes how addressing discrimination faced by Travellers and Roma “require[s] a holistic, intersectional approach.”⁷

Although Ireland has taken steps to develop Traveller-specific policies through various national strategies (including the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy and the National Traveller Health Action Plan 2022–2027),⁸ slow implementation and lack of resources are ongoing and of significant concern.⁹ In Ireland’s most recent review under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee made multiple recommendations calling on Ireland to further respect, protect and fulfil the economic, social and cultural rights of Travellers and Roma. The Committee noted the distinct lack of culturally appropriate accommodation, education and health services for Traveller and Roma communities.¹⁰ A key recommendation relating to Pavee Point’s work on social policy was for the state to effectively implement the National Traveller Health Action Plan 2022–2027, following calls from Pavee Point and other Traveller organizations in their shadow report.¹¹

Illustrations by Malena Guerrero via femiñetas

The over-representation of Travellers and Roma in the Irish criminal justice system

Like many minority ethnic groups across the world, Travellers and Roma are over-represented in the criminal justice system in Ireland.¹² Traveller and Roma communities experience over-the-top, invasive policing, including frequent stops by Gardaí¹³ – Irish police officers – for identification, Gardaí entering their homes unlawfully without a search warrant and discrimination in the courts system.¹⁴ In 2019, social media posts revealed footage of members of An Garda Síochána and the fire services engaged in impersonating and mocking the Traveller community.¹⁵

The over-policing and subsequent over-representation of Travellers and Roma in the criminal justice system is exacerbated by the lack of investment in social policy and protection for Travellers and Roma.

Despite constituting less than 1% of the overall population, Travellers are less likely to be enrolled in secondary education (33% compared to 90% of the overall population), are more likely to experience homelessness (39% compared to 6% of the overall population) and have significantly higher unemployment rates (80% compared to the overall national figure of 7%).¹⁶ Pavee Point reports that Travellers “[feel] hopeless in the face of racism and discrimination and [see] no future for themselves in a society that has excluded them at every turn”.¹⁷

The aforementioned over-policing experienced by Travellers and Roma and the lack of adequate services in social policy translate to, and reinforce, a lack of trust in police and the legal system.¹⁸ The overuse of police powers against Travellers and Roma goes against the community policing ethos of An Garda Síochána, as Gardaí operate on the basis of public confidence.¹⁹ In other policing research by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL),²⁰ the distinct lack of trust in An Garda Síochána among the Traveller community was expressed by interviewees who said they see An Garda Síochána not as a state arm meant to protect them, but rather as a tool to serve and protect the communities which Gardaí come from (98% of Gardaí are white Irish).²¹ This acutely demonstrates the lack of trust and tense relationships between An Garda Síochána and Traveller and Roma communities – a sharp contrast from the high levels of public confidence An Garda Síochána generally enjoys.²²

The work of Pavee Point and debate around police’s function in Ireland

Since its inception, Pavee Point has grounded its work in community development, with its associated principles of social justice, solidarity, equality and human rights coupled with an approach that involves participation, empowerment and collective action. This has been fundamental in informing Pavee Point’s work with Travellers and Roma and in informing social policy areas. Pavee Point has pioneered work in the areas of Traveller Primary Health Care,²³ Traveller men’s health, drug and alcohol addiction and mental health.²⁴ Alongside Pavee Point, organizations like the Simon Communities and Ana Liffey Drug Project work to respond to their communities’ most pressing social needs. These are areas which, if left unaddressed or not sufficiently prioritized, can lead to increased contact with An Garda Síochána, including in the form of arrest or other engagement with the criminal justice system. An Garda Síochána has the punitive power under legislation to take individuals into custody and enter dwellings if they believe someone is suffering from a mental disorder and that they may cause harm to themselves or others.²⁵ Similar powers have been provided under child protection legislation.²⁶

By working in partnership with Travellers and Roma, underpinned by community development, Pavee Point supports an alternative to this punitive or security approach, which can lead to crime and increased engagement with police. While Ireland does not have a large defund-the-police movement, some human rights-based reforms to policing have arisen from the final report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (primarily regarding police oversight bodies), which Pavee Point’s pioneering work contributed to.²⁷

As a national Traveller organization, Pavee Point has a long-standing relationship with An Garda Síochána and is committed to building trust between the Traveller community and An Garda Síochána as one many strategies to protect and help this community thrive. A positive example of this was seen with the community engagement approach which was used during the Covid-19 pandemic. At several instances during the pandemic, Gardaí contacted Pavee Point in relation to the restrictions on large social gatherings. In some cases, where there was a reported concern, Pavee Point linked directly with the community or the relevant local Traveller organization. Where this approach was adopted, there were positive outcomes, placing an emphasis on community engagement before police enforcement. Pavee Point also supported this work by focusing on preventative measures, such as developing culturally appropriate messaging about Covid-19 restrictions and the importance of adhering to the rules in order to stay safe. Although a positive experience, it is clear that this level of dialogue is needed regularly, not just in times of emergency. Gardaí should also seek advice and support from Traveller and Roma organizations and members on an ongoing basis.

Despite steps to advance diversity within the service²⁸ and evidence that examples of positive interactions by individual members of An Garda Síochána do indeed exist, working to unroot entrenched racist and discriminatory attitudes is an ongoing effort. Engaging with the criminal justice system to advocate for human rights-based policing is one way Pavee Point draws attention to the over-policing and underprotection of Traveller and Roma communities. For example, Pavee Point has previously delivered anti-racism and human rights training to the Garda College. The training focused on Traveller rights and addressing anti-Traveller racism to raise awareness among Garda trainees about how Travellers have been policed, providing recommendations for inclusive and respectful approaches to the work. It has also made various submissions to Ireland’s policing oversight bodies,²⁹ the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland,³⁰ the UN Human Rights Committee³¹ and An Garda Síochána³². Pavee Point is a member of the Garda Traveller Advisory Group and sits on the advisory committee of the Traveller Justice Initiative.

Pavee Point’s work on policing and social policy, and the broader police reform process in Ireland, is happening within a broader context of the recognition that An Garda Síochána spends a majority of its time on harm prevention (including providing services to people with mental health and addiction conditions).³³ In 2024, a parliamentary committee on justice also called for increased empirical research on the root causes of violence.³⁴ Regrettably, political momentum and enthusiasm for human rights-based reforms to policing have since waned, with police public policy issues focusing on the use of facial recognition technology for Gardaí, and challenges with recruitment and retention of Gardaí.³⁵ Despite this broader context, Pavee Point has consistently made important cases for addressing root social issues as a solution and for finding alternatives to difficult community relationships with police, and will continue to do so following Ireland’s latest iteration of police reform legislation, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

Pavee Point also does a significant amount of work on drug and alcohol misuse, as well as mental health, underpinned by an analysis of the social determinants of health. Substance abuse is a consequence of the broader context in which Travellers are living and a “result of trauma caused by poverty, poor living conditions, exclusion, racism, and discrimination”,³⁶ and as such requires a support strategy that is holistic to both the individual and the community. Regarding mental health, there are significant problems regarding the availability, accessibility and quality of mental health care and services among the general population, and particularly for disadvantaged and marginalized groups such as Travellers.³⁷ Pavee Point’s work on mental health provides a targeted response to mental health needs within the Traveller community and provides support, including pointers on how to access further support.³⁸ However, there is a need to ensure a mainstreaming also to avoid a wholly targeted or segregated approach. An analogous approach is taken with their work on Traveller men’s health. Pavee Point’s work serves to address the gap in services from the state in these areas in a culturally appropriate and empowering manner and to counter the disproportionate and invasive policing response.

Pavee Point’s work on drug policy

The Traveller community is disproportionately affected by the criminalization of drug use.

Pavee Point’s work on drug policy is a significant part of the organization’s health work advocating for social policy change. Drug misuse among Travellers has increased in recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.³⁹ Pavee Point called for decriminalization for the personal use of drugs (similar to the Portuguese model) in their submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use (a body comprising 99 members of the general public and one independent chairperson to consider possible legislative, policy and operational changes on drug use in Ireland).⁴⁰ The Traveller community is disproportionately affected by the criminalization of drug use. This arises from lack of trust due to racism perpetuated by An Garda Síochána, with concerns regarding Travellers being criminalized for drug use more than non-Travellers – including more prosecutions and longer sentences.⁴¹ As expressed in the submission, Pavee Point “see[s] racism and exclusion as a significant causation of poor health and addiction”.⁴² To advance a community development approach and address mental health and addiction issues, a peer work approach is identified that should be supported.⁴³

Pavee Point’s work on drug addiction seeks to simultaneously address substance misuse issues and reduce interactions with Gardaí, which can quickly escalate to arrest or detention. It also ties into the organization’s broader policy work addressing racism and discrimination experienced by Travellers and how they manifest in unequal health outcomes and opportunities for work, education and accommodation compared to the non-Traveller population. Experiences of discrimination exacerbate drug use in the Traveller community.⁴⁴ Pavee Point’s approach is best as it furthers a health-led response to addiction within the community that is culturally appropriate, while at the same time engaging directly with the state body (primarily An Garda Síochána) to address significantly high levels of mistrust and disproportionate representation of the Traveller community in the criminal justice system.⁴⁵

In terms of drug policing specifically, Travellers report that they “are more likely to be prosecuted than members of the settled community and more likely to get higher sentences”.⁴⁶ Pavee Point advocates for a community development approach in the area of addiction and substance misuse, as this has been identified as important in addressing health issues, including addiction among Travellers, “as trust in mainstream services can be low and mainstream services may not understand the nuances of working with a community that has a long history of racism and exclusion.”⁴⁷This includes peer work, with Travellers working within their own communities to identify health needs and to provide support, and has proven worthwhile over many decades.⁴⁸

Pavee Point’s focus on drug policy reflects how drug use and substance misuse relate to other health issues, including poor mental health and higher suicide rates compared to non-Travellers. The All-Ireland Traveller Health Study (2010) found that drug use by Travellers was “[exacerbated] further by poor living conditions, poor educational outcomes, racism, and lack of employment opportunities” creating more vulnerability to addiction.⁴⁹ One of the reasons Pavee Point calls for decriminalization is its focus on treating addiction as a health issue, rather than employing a punitive criminal justice response. In so doing, Pavee Point looks to reduce addiction by addressing the above risk factors for drug use. Such an approach furthers community development and fulfils Traveller and Roma rights, rather than relying on over-the-top invasive policing.

Illustration by Malena Guerrero via femiñetas — Illustrations by Malena Guerrero via femiñetas

Closing

Over the past 40 years, the strategies Pavee Point has used to address critical social policy issues, such as drug policy, carry lessons that can serve other underserved and over-policed communities both in Ireland and abroad. As a national Traveller organization Pavee Point, like many NGOs, addresses gaps where services provided by the state are unavailable, nonexistent, inadequate or ineffective.

The lack of services is a manifestation of the pervasive discrimination, racism and prejudice faced by Travellers and Roma, especially when it is coupled with decades of invasive policing and broken trust towards An Garda Síochána and legal services.

By providing these services and addressing these gaps, Pavee Point works to address issues by working at policy level and also directly with An Garda Síochána to support their engagement with the Traveller community.

With communities that have been caught for decades between the constants of over-the-top invasive policing and limited state support, the most important lesson is that police should not be the main or only respondent to issues such as drug policy, mental health and other social issues. This approach has not worked: it has led to further marginalization of Travellers and Roma and entrenched deeper the mistrust. Pavee Point’s pioneering work illustrates how the state should take a holistic, intersectional approach to addressing social policy issues by engaging with communities to target root causes of issues like drug use, rather than focusing on punishment and policing alone.

Endnotes

1
In Ireland, “Travellers” refers specifically to a distinct ethnic minority group with a unique culture, language (referred to as Cant or Shelta) and traditions. Irish Travellers have been documented as being part of Irish society for centuries. Travellers have long shared history, traditions, language, culture and customs. Traveller culture is based on a nomadic tradition and sets Travellers apart from the sedentary population or “settled people”.
2
Romani people, or Roma, are an ethnic group of traditionally itinerant people who have been present in Ireland since the 18th century. The Romani people originate from Northern India. The majority of Roma in Ireland derived from Romani populations originating in Ukraine and Hungary.
3
Marie O’Halloran and Michael O’Regan, “Travellers formally recognised as an ethnic minority” (Irish Times, 1 March 2017), Accessible at https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/travellers-formally-recognised-as-an-ethnic-minority-1.2994309
4
For example, please see Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, “Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention”, Geneva, 4 April 2011, CERD/C/IRL/CO/3-4, para 12, https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2FPPRiCAqhKb7yhsl%2FyrM1B9TT0oGmEKg0FjIGMDN9GaDxXjccJrXyrYl%2F%2FcNOv7wnHIb0L7jDoxEB0Xhj6wo%2F5mWhBPgF7MFyODF2Qj0zgpRtrVm9esS4KT3%2Ft and Human Rights Committee, “Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Ireland”, Geneva, 19 August 2014, CCPR/C/IRL/CO/4, para 23
5
Pavee Point, Strategic Plan 2017-2021, https://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Strategic-Plan-2021_NOV17.pdf, p. 5
6
Ibid., p. 7.
7
Ibid.
8
Department of Health and Health Service Executive, National Traveller Health Action Plan 2022–2027, 2022, https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/socialinclusion/national-traveller-health-action-plan-2022-2027.pdf
9
Coalition of Traveller and Roma Organisations, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Ireland: Joint Alternative Report by a Coalition of Traveller and Roma Organisations, January 2024, https://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pavee-Point-Traveller-and-Roma-Centre_ICESCR-Ireland-Traveller-and-Roma-2024-Final.pdf, p. 12
10
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “Concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Ireland”, Geneva, 20 March 2024, E/C.12/IRL/CO/4, paras. 40, 41(c), 46, 52(b), 53(c), https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=4slQ6QSmlBEDzFEovLCuW3%2BG%2FOK6uNgdeoJLsC7Ouk%2F%2B8unjVglIHlwJKmt2vcVvah5r4ytmadrbWxYFtdszgP7g2L28t6VT4ydqgyCvNDybxHDGz9ZdU574Opod12%2B%2F.
11
Coalition of Traveller and Roma Organisations, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Ireland, p. 12; Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “Concluding observations”, para. 45(d)
12
Tanya Lalor, Ethnic Identifiers in Irish Prisons (Travellers in Prison Initiative: 2017) Accessible at https://www.ssgt.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TPI-Ethnic-Identifiers-in-Irish-Prisons-Book.pdf, pp. 1, 3; Irish Penal Reform Trust, “Oberstown Children Detention Campus: Key characteristics of young people in detention for Q1 2018”, Accessible at https://www.iprt.ie/latest-news/oberstown-children-detention-campus-key-characteristics-of-young-people-in-detention-for-q1-2018/
13
A note on language: “An Garda Síochána” is used when referring to the police service as an organization; “Gardaí” is used when referring to police officers, including actions of individual members.
14
Patricia Kennedy, Roma in Ireland: A National Needs Assessment (Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre and Department of Justice and Equality: 2018) Accessible at https://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/RNA-PDF.pdf, p. 54; Sindy Joyce et al., Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice (European Centre for the Study of Hate: 2022) https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/36509/1/ITAJ_Final.pdf, pp. 10, 93–95.
15
PA Reporter, “Garda Commissioner includes traveller community in ‘increased diversity’ message” (The Independent, 26 September 2019), Accessible at https://www.independent.ie/news/garda-commissioner-includes-traveller-community-in-increased-diversity-message/38538200.html
16
Pavee Point, Strategic Plan 2024–2027, Accessible at http://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Finalised-Pavee-Point-Strategic-Plan-2024-2027-2.pdf, p. 3
17
Pavee Point, Submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, June 2023, https://citizensassembly.ie/wp-content/uploads/CADU664_F.pdf, p. 4.
18
Pavee Point, Submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, June 2023, https://citizensassembly.ie/wp-content/uploads/CADU664_F.pdf, p. 4.
19
Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, section 4(c)
20
For more information, please see Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Irish Network Against Racism, Policing and Racial Discrimination in Ireland: A Community and Rights Perspective, April 2024, https://inar.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1.-POLICING-AND-RACIAL-DISCRIMINATION-1.pdf; Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Human Rights in Irish Policing: Analysing the Implementation of the Recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, May 2024, https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CoFPI-report-WEB.pdf
21
Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Human Rights in Irish Policing: Analysing the Implementation of the Recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, May 2024, https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CoFPI-report-WEB.pdf; “Census of Population 2022 – Summary Results”, Central Statistics Office, accessed 23 January 2024, https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpsr/censusofpopulation2022-summaryresults/
22
“Over 90 Per Cent of People Trust An Garda Síochána – Garda Public Attitudes Survey 2021”, An Garda Síochána, accessed 27 March 2024, https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2022/november/over-90-per-cent-of-people-trust-an-garda-siochana-garda-public-attitudes-survey-2021.html
23
“Primary Health Care for Travellers Project (PHCTP)”, accessed 28 February 2024, https://www.paveepoint.ie/our-programmes/primary-health-care-for-travellers-project-phctp/
24
“Mental Health Programme”, Pavee Point, accessed 28 February 2024, https://www.paveepoint.ie/project/mental-health-initiative/
25
See Mental Health Act 2001, section 12.
26
See Child Care Act 1991, section 12.
27
Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Human Rights in Irish Policing: Analysing the Implementation of the Recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
28
For example, see An Garda Síochána, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Strategy Statement & Action Plan 2020–2021, https://www.garda.ie/garda/en/about-us/publications/policing-plans/strategy/ags-equility-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-statement-and-action-plan-2020-to-2021.pdf
29
Pavee Point, Submission to the Garda Inspectorate on the Inspection into the Effectiveness and Efficiency of An Garda Síochána’s Response to Domestic Abuse, January 2022, https://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pavee-Point-Submission-to-the-Garda-Inspectorate-on-the-Inspection-into-the-Effectiveness-and-Efficiency-of-An-Garda-Siochana-28012022-1.pdf.
30
Pavee Point, Submission to the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, January 2018, https://policereform.ie/en/POLREF/Pavee%20Point%20Traveller%20&%20Roma%20Centre.pdf/Files/Pavee%20Point%20Traveller%20&%20Roma%20Centre.pdf
31
Pavee Point, Submission to the Human Rights Committee: Ireland’s Examination in Relation to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 2020, https://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pavee-Point-List-of-Issues-for-Ireland-Human-Rights-Committee-CCPR-14082020.pdf
32
Pavee Point, Briefing in Relation to Policing Issues, 9 October 2023, https://www.paveepoint.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PolicingBriefing.pdf
33
The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, The Future of Policing in Ireland, September 2018, https://policereform.ie/en/POLREF/The%20Future%20of%20Policing%20in%20Ireland(web).pdf/Files/The%20Future%20of%20Policing%20in%20Ireland(web).pdf, p. ix
34
Joint Committee on Justice, Report on Engagements on Policing Matters, February 2024, https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/joint_committee_on_justice/reports/2024/2024-02-27_report-on-engagements-on-policing-matters_en.pdf, p. 9
35
For example, see Joint Committee on Justice, Report on Engagements on Policing Matters and Joint Committee on Justice, Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2023, February 2024, https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/33/joint_committee_on_justice/reports/2024/2024-02-27_report-on-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-general-scheme-of-the-garda-siochana-recording-devices-amendment-bill-2023_en.pdf
36
“Drug Alcohol Addiction Programme”, Pavee Point, https://www.paveepoint.ie/our-programmes/drug-alcohol-addiction-programme/
37
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “Concluding observation: Ireland”, para 48
38
“Mental Health Programme”, Pavee Point, accessed 28 March 2024, https://www.paveepoint.ie/our-programmes/mental-health-initiative/
39
Pavee Point, Submission to Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, p. 4
40
Ibid., pp. 7–8
41
Ibid., p. 7
42
Ibid., p. 6
43
Ibid
44
Ibid., pp.3–4
45
Ibid., p. 7
46
Ibid
47
Ibid., p. 6
48
Ibid
49
Ibid., pp.3–4

Contributors

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre is an Irish NGO comprising Travellers, Roma and majority population that works at local, regional, national and international levels to address the exclusion and marginalization Travellers and Roma meet as minority ethnic groups and promote human rights. Since 1985, Pavee Point has established a track record in innovative and groundbreaking work using a collective community development approach to addressing Traveller and Roma issues and promoting Traveller and Roma human rights. Pavee Point’s mission is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life, living circumstances, status, and participation of travellers and Roma people by working innovatively for social justice, greater solidarity, development, equality, and human rights.

Emily Williams is the Policing and Justice Policy Officer at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Originally from the unceded territory of Mi’kma’ki (Atlantic Canada), she is interested in using her privilege to reform policing structures, address inequalities and advance the rights of over-policed and under-protected communities. She holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway and a BA in Human Rights and Criminology and Criminal Justice from St. Thomas University, Canada. Her email is [email protected].

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is Ireland’s oldest independent human rights body. It has been at the forefront of every major rights advance in Irish society for over 40 years. ICCL helped decriminalize homosexuality, divorce and contraception. It drove police reform, defending suspects’ rights during dark times. In recent years, it has led successful campaigns for marriage equality, data protection and reproductive rights.

Illustrations by Malena Guerrero via femiñetas

Malena Guerrero is an illustrator and animator from Rosario, Argentina. Her work is characterized by bright palettes, colourful scenes and strong bodies that enhance the human form, showing it in all its glory.

With her style, she tries to represent diversity and community from a dynamic and feminist perspective. She currently works freelance for digital and press media.

femiñetas: feminism in vignettes. femiñetas is an illustrated and transoceanic collective and media. It comprises some 300 illustrators and writers from different parts of the world who form a story-telling community in the language of comics.

Flor Coll is the coordinator and founder of femiñetas. She is a journalist and Social Communication graduate from Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Argentina) and holds a Master’s in Gender and Communication from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain). After working for more than 15 years as a journalist in Argentinian radio, TV and print media, she currently carries out gender and sexuality campaigns for the NGO Sexus and teaches at the Master’s in Communication and Gender at the Barcelona Open University in Spain (UAB). She co-created Chamana Comunicación, a consultancy firm based in Barcelona where she is the director of communication and capacity building.