The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, has launched an anti-racism protocol which will oblige the party's candidates at future elections to conduct their campaigns "in a manner which does not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of race, colour, nationality or ethnic origins".
While racism was seen as less of a problem in Northern Ireland than in other countries, a recent study by the Statistics and Research agency highlighted a worrying growth in racist attitudes in the North, Mr Hume said. "The SDLP, in its role as the party which has never tolerated either violence or discrimination in any form, feels it must now take the lead in condemning and working against racism in all its forms," he added.
The survey had found that over half of those questioned were unwilling to accept a person of south Asian origin as a relative by marriage, while a quarter did not want an Afro-Caribbean, Chinese or south Asian person as a neighbour.
The SDLP leader pointed to an increase in racist attitudes in the Republic, a trend which the North must not be allowed to follow, and said it was ironic that Ireland, with its tradition of emigration, had not yet woken up to the growing racism on its soil.
"We, the Irish, have gone across the sea for centuries, expectant of work and success. We have played a part in building the societies into which we integrated ourselves. We have acquitted ourselves well. But now, when other nations find themselves faced with the same hardships and injustices which we have faced, should we not understand their plight and treat them with respect and understanding?"
The launch was attended by Mr Kensika Monshengwo from the Republic's National Consultative Committee on Interculturalism and Racism, who congratulated the SDLP for its antiracism protocol.