No Way To Racial Harassment

OFFICE OF THE RACE RELATIONS CONCILIATOR
TE TARI WHAKAWHANAUNGA-A-IWI

Press Release: 17/10/01

No Way To Racial Harassment

Combating racial harassment through education is the mission of a new Race Relation Office resource - “The School Community: A Racial Harassment Free Zone”.

Bernice Mene, a Silver Fern and teacher, who is fronting the resource campaign says that school should be a happy place but racial harassment means this is not the case for some students.

“Education is so important that nothing should get in the way of everyone being able to succeed. That’s why we have to say no way to racial harassment”.

To try and achieve this goal the Race Relations Office has produced “The School Community: A Racial Harassment Free Zone” for schools and the communities surrounding them.

The free resource contains a workbook and manuals with information on:
- What racial harassment is
- What schools are required to do by law
- How to develop a racial harassment policy and procedures
- How to resolve complaints of racial harassment

Race Relations Conciliator Gregory Fortuin says “No child is born a racist and no child is born to hate. We need to do everything in our power to keep it that way.”

The resource will be launched in the Selwyn College Hall at 4pm on Thursday 18 October. Associate Minister of Justice the Hon. Margaret Wilson will speak at the launch. The Race Relations Conciliator Gregory Fortuin and the Principal of Selwyn College Carol White will also speak. Students will perform a special skit “This is Your Life - Racial Harassment”.

For further information on the launch &/or the resource please contact Race Relations Education Officer Julie Watson on 307 2352.

ENDS

© Scoop Media