Social Policies Aimed Towards Addressing Discrimination Against Travelers - Literature review Example

 Discrimination against Travellers The social workers take up quite a noble mission of helping the community in resolving ongoing crisis; enhance public awareness on issues and spreading the ideals of equality, peace and liberty in the society. Social workers comprise a very significant pillar of the society as a critical social responsibility rests on their shoulder. This social responsibility requites not only conviction and commitment, but also fairness and firm ideals of justice on the part of social workers. Thus, social workers must demonstrate the best of their character and ethical conduct as it isn’t merely a profession rather more of a social drive for spreading goodness in the society (Richardon & Ryder 2012). Therefore, the social workers carry forward the mission statement of standing against racism or other forms of discriminatory practices on any individual based on their personal freedom of choices, to ensure that individuals in a society are treated equally and fairly, also that every individual has equal access to quality education and health facilities, not to mention the basic right of entry to quality accommodation and justice system. Since social workers take up the mission of eradicating injustice from the society, it would be quite a paradox is they exhibit a character opposite to that expected from them. Though social workers are actively pursuing their causes, yet when it come to the rights of traveller and gypsy communities, the social workers either seem to be uninvolved or in extreme cases biased against them (Lloyd & Joan 2001). The sole purpose of choosing the thematic analysis of social worker`s contribution towards the cause of alleviating issues of the travellers community to identify the discriminatory practices against them, also to point out to the fact that the social workers are clearly violating their mission statement in this context. More so, the new coverage in the UK often speaks of the injustices inducted upon the travellers community. On one hand where the general social indicators of the UK as a whole and the minority`s in specific are getting better off, the case with the gypsies evidently points toward the opposite direction (Joanna and Andrew 2012). The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is quite vocal on the cause and thus, outcry against such practices can often be witnessed on the media. Also, it isn’t a hidden fact that the media is also unbiased towards the gypsies. Recently, The Travellers Movement has become quite vocal on the media over the biased and shameless broadcasting of the Gypsy Wedding television programmes where extreme mockery is being subjected against the travellers community. Also, the social workers are uninvolved in the case where the campaigners are struggling for a judicial review on the rejection of complaints by Ofcom . Though the judicial system discourages the broadcasting of any discriminatory content especially against the ethnic minorities, yet in this case the Ofcomm ceases to take action against the channel management which is indulged in enhancing discriminatory behaviours. The gypsy population is suffering a great deal by the discriminatory practices inducted upon them. Since the individuals belonging to this segment of the community are deprived of an equal chance of employment, the financial status of the community drops. This paves way for many other recurring issues. The death rate in the traveller’s community is higher, also most of the individuals belonging to this group die an early death due to lack of resources and health facilities. Also, the children lack educational facilities, and those who make it to the school level fail to continue higher studies due to low morale from discriminatory behaviour in schools. Thus, the children suffer from dire psychological disorders requiring immediate medical attention. Moreover, the judicial system is also quite unsupportive of the community as the tribunals cease from accepting their contempt or refuse to file cases. The accommodation authorities also tend to refuse requests from the community (Taylor 2008). Thus, there is need for social workers to take their responsibilities seriously and advocate for measures to improve the situation. There must be, therefore, a positive relationship between the social workers and the traveller`s community since the social workers must support the gypsies and fight for their rights. The case is however the opposite and most of the mainstream social workers tend to be negatively related to the traveller community. In fact, they are biased towards the gypsies and treat them as an out-cast in most cases. Historically, travellers and gypsies have become a part of the UK community since the 16th century. However, to much dismay, this community is still being treated as an ethnic minority rather worse. The traveller’s community has been marginalized and forced to be out-casted owing to the discriminatory practices prevalent in the UK. Also, owing to the discriminatory practices, this community is deprived of the basic access to health and educational facilities. Though apparently, efforts are being made to revise legislations in the UK to the advantage of the traveller’s community, yet there isn’t much improvement in the area. Initially, social workers were referring to the Race Relations Act 1976 as the main anti-discriminatory act to protect the interests of the traveller’s community (EUROPEAN YEAR AGAINST RACISM 1998). However, research indicates that the act isn’t enough since the legal system fails to offer relief to these gypsies and travellers. Furthermore, the travellers community was relying on the Equality Act 2010 sine the Act prohibits any kind of discriminatory practices at workplace or other aspects of social life in the UK. Also, The Housing Act 2004 was also incorporated to deal with the accommodation issues related to the Gypsy community, since the Act required the authorities to take up relevant cases. Yet, evidence indicates that biasness in the system leads toward apparent issues due to which cases aren’t even taken up to a higher level. To further elaborate on the policy initiatives, further elaboration need to be done on the legislations and reforms adopted over time. The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 indentifies these gypsies and travellers as ethnics groups on the basis of sharing the same culture, beliefs and language. There is quite some legislation currently at play which can be used to the benefit of the travellers community. The Equalities Act 2005, at this point, is the most widely used Act in the favour of the gypsies at the time (Cramwell & Julian 2005). Moreover reforms have been made to the Accommodation reforms, for instance, the recent changes in Housing and the Regeneration Act 2008 is an effective legislation and can be conveniently used in this context. The reform implies that those obligations and rights incorporated in the Mobile Home Act 1983 must also be adopted by the local authorities as well. Moreover, since January 2004, another initiative was taken, i.e. the Department of Communities and Local Governments gave a new meaning to the traveller’s community while undertaking accommodation assessment, which must be in compliance to the duties highlighted in the Housing Act 2004 (Ohanlon 2010). Another important engagement in this context is the approval of an amount up to 30 million Euros in the Eastern side of the UK to either build new sites for the traveller’s community or also to improve the already existing sites. The social workers are currently involved in assessments and evaluation in context to sustainability and value-for –money. It has been reported that the social workers are posing arguments against the project while assessing needs which is impeding the process and causing further complications in the project. Moreover, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is quite a powerful legislation against the gypsy communities as it withdrew duties on the local authorities for offering caravan sites to these individuals. As a result many of the applicants were rejected applications further deteriorating the situation. On the bright side, recently the New Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) published the circular claiming effective planning for these gypsies, where the social workers involved played a positive role (Lloyd, and McCluskey 2008). As a result, the government allocated around 12 months to the local planning authorities to identify deliverable sites for the next five years. Also, the system also includes a range of services for the disposal of services to the traveller groups and communities. Social workers are currently engaged with gypsy communities in Norfolk and Suffolk to look for partnership where special services can be offered. Adult and Community Services are also working partially for the wellbeing if the gypsy community, acquiring welfare and social care for the community. Other such services are also apparently being launched however their scope is quite limited and most of the mainstream social workers are still quite biased to them. The sole areas where the gypsies need assistance stands to be the accommodation issues, cohesion issues in the community, alongside issues associated to education and social welfare. In this context, there are a few movements running in order to challenge the actions of the media, though the action is limited. Similarly, efforts are being made to restore the community where advocacy groups like Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Service Parishes Police, Police Fire GTLO and other groups are participating, yet response is quite nominal as yet. Thus, over the years, efforts are being made to improve the situation, yet there are challenges as the social workers are the sole adversaries in the area most negatively effecting the situation. Thus, conclusively, it is the mission statement of a social worker to help those in need and dispensing justice for those who need it the most. In case of the Gypsy and travellers communities, this doesn’t seem to be the case. There are a few legislations currently treating the gypsies as ethnic minorities. Also, certain legislations are being imposed to dispose effect justice and equality to these individuals, yet there isn’t any improvement. Also, initiatives are being made to allow accommodation space for these communities. However, there isn’t much improvement in the area. Mainly, the social workers themselves are biased in this case and thus, they aren’t advocating much in this context. Also, there is no awareness on the legislation, even when there is, the tribunals fail to address their issues and take up their cases. Thus, an overt discrimination is being advanced against the community, and the ignorance of social workers seems to be the most definitive underlying cause. References: Carnwell, Ros, and Julian Buchanan. Effective Practice in Health and Social Care: A Partnership Approach. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2005. Internet resource. EUROPEAN YEAR AGAINST RACISM. (1998). Roma, gypsies, travellers of Europe: an examination of discrimination and racism ; report adopted at conference in Leuven, Belgium, 17-19th January, 1998. Dublin, Published on behalf of the Irish National Co-Ordinating Committee for the European Year Against Racism [by] Pavee Point Publications. JOANNA RICHARDSON, & ANDREW RYDER. (2012). Justice and empowerment. Lloyd, Gwynedd, and Gillean McCluskey. "Education and Gypsies/travellers: "contradictions and Significant Silences"." International Journal of Inclusive Education. 12.4 (2008): 331-345. Print. Lloyd, Gwynedd, and Joan Stead. "‘the Boys and Girls Not Calling Me Names and the Teachers to Believe Me’. Name Calling and the Experiences of Travellers in School."Children & Society. 15.5 (2001): 361-374. Print. O’HANLON, C. (2010). Whose education? The inclusion of Gypsy/Travellers: continuing culture and tradition through the right to choose educational opportunities to support their social and economic mobility. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. 40, 239-254. RICHARDSON, J., & RYDER, A. (2012). Gypsies and Travellers: empowerment and inclusion in British society. Bristol, UK, Policy Press. Taylor, Becky. A Minority and the State: Travellers in Britain in the Twentieth Century. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2008. Internet resource. Read More