The city’s Hate Crime Awareness Week (HCAW) is an annual event introduced in 2015 to raise awareness of hate crime and the impact it has on others.
This year’s HCAW, which runs 18th – 24th October, focuses on Community Cohesion and primary and secondary schools across the city are being asked to come up with a slogan which promotes community cohesion and the fact Glasgow has no place for hate.
Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years, is delighted schools and young people have the chance to take part and also win £250 for their school.
He said: “The schools hate crime awareness week competition is always very popular with both primary and secondary classes keen to take part. “It’s a fantastic way to engage with young people on an issue which, sadly, still exists today.
“Improving public awareness of hate crime and how to recognise and respond to it is at the heart of this campaign and the schools competition is great way to engage with our young citizens in a thought provoking way.”
A hate crime is any crime motivated by prejudice or hate against a person because of their age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or variations in sex characteristics.
Glasgow was the first city in Scotland to mark hate crime awareness week. The city took up the awareness raising campaign in 2015 to encourage activity to address hate crime and educate and raise awareness of the harm and devastation it causes. The weeklong campaign aims to encourage more people to speak out and report hate crime incidents.
Bailie Marie Garrity, Chair of Glasgow’s Hate Crime Working Group, is urging residents to help put an end to hate crime.
She said: “Glasgow prides itself on being a friendly city yet many residents suffer because of hate crime and the feelings of fear and intimidation it brings.
“The damage caused by hate crime goes beyond individual victims – it impacts on families, friends and whole communities suffer.
“Feelings of anger, fear, shame and embarrassment are common reactions for victims of hate crime. These in turn can impact on many areas of life including employment, education, health and a person’s ability to fully participate in society. We all have a responsibility to stand up against hate crime and support those who are affected by it.”
You can report a hate crime without contacting the police in person, through a Third Party Reporting Centre. Glasgow has more than 60 Third Party Reporting Centres where staff have been trained by Police Scotland to provide help and support to anyone who thinks a hate crime has been committed to report it. These third party reporting centres include housing associations, Victim Support, Glasgow Disability Alliance, LGBT Youth Scotland, West of Scotland Regional Equality Council and many more.
This year the city’s awareness raising campaign will run from October 18th to 24th and will be supported by Radio adverts and social media activity.
Information on hate crime, how to report it and where, is available via the dedicated Hate Crime Scotland website.
