An Irish anti-racism group today said all governments need to develop a national programme to tackle racism.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), which is participating in the UN world conference against racism in Durban, South Africa, said existing anti-racism measures should be formalised into a comprehensive plan.
Ms Anastasia Crickley, NCCRI chairperson, said Ireland has already brought in a number of different measures such as the Equality legislation and the Equality Authorities.
She added: "The conference has the potential to be the basis of both global and national response to tackle racism. It is also historic for the fact that the conference is likely to recognise that racism is experienced by Travellers, migrant workers and refugees and asylum seekers".
The conference began today amid bitter recriminations about the Middle East between Arab states and the US.