HATE CRIMES WORKING GROUP AGM

Chairperson’s Report 2014

11 February 2015 | Scalabrini Centre, Cape Town

Our objectives for 2014?

• Address the dearth of accurate data on the prevalence,

nature and psychological impact of hate crimes on

individuals, communities and society, across sectors

• Advocate for the relevance of hate crimes legislation in

South Africa

• Grow the HCWG in terms of both structure and size

Active, committed Steering Committee

Members of the Steering Committee, 2014:Ingrid Lynch (Triangle Project) ChairJohan Nel (OUT)Iole Matthews (IPT) SecretaryAlfani Yoyo (CoRMSA)Tracy Doig (Amnesty International)Angelica Pino (Sonke Gender Justice)Cory Johnson (Scalabrini Centre )Janine Shamos (SAJBD)Anthony Waldhausen (Gay & Lesbian Network)Jean Misago (ACMS)

Research Sub Committee:Juan Nel, Yolanda Mitchell, Ella Kotze, Khonzi Mbatha

Overview

• Six Steering Committee meetings

• Two member organisations

participating in DOJ&CD NTT

• Implementation of the Hate and Bias

Crime Monitoring Form – finalised

and being used to build a baseline

(Full report to follow)

Training workshops

Joint workshops with staff and service users: • CoRMSA (refugee, migrant, foreign national organisations)• SAJBD (religious, faith-based organisations)• SWEAT, TP, Scalabrini (LGBTI, refugee, sex work representatives)

Aimed at:• Awareness-raising regarding nature and prevalence of hate crime• Identifying incidents of hate crime• Documenting hate crimes using Hate & Bias Crime Monitoring Form

Other provincial activities

• Gay & Lesbian Network

(Pietermaritzburg)

• Exhibition and panel discussion

• Create awareness, encourage

individuals and communities to take

initiative to report incidents

• Good media coverage

Other provincial activities

• Joint initiative between HCWG,

Durban Holocaust Centre, the

Victor Daitz Foundation

• Screening of A snake gives birth

to a snake & panel discussion, in

Durban, 21 Oct 2014

Psychological Society of South Africa symposium

• Symposium at PsySSA Congress

• Civil society, mental health

professionals, researchers

• Building research agenda

Liaison with international bodies

• Invitation to present panel discussion at

International Network for Hate Studies

conference: Research, policy and

practice in the UK

• Resulted in contribution of chapter,

Hate crime in transitional

communities: The case of South Africa

to edited book, “The Globalisation of

Hate: Internationalising hate crime?”

Revamp of the website

• Our own website address – www.hcwg.org.za

• Downloadable Hate & Bias Crime Monitoring Forms

• Online MF now available

• Links to all members

• Links to media coverage

& reports

2014 media coverage

Tracking HC media coverage via Meltwater News (supported by SAJBD)

We continue to receive print media interview and requests

A Media Breakfast was held on 22nd October 2015

Social media: Facebook page – Hate Crimes Working Group SA

o From 51 followers in June 2013 to 118 in Jan 2014 to 160 Jan 2015 –

growing slowly but steadily

o Sharing news and updating members

2015 plans?

• Build further momentum with Hate and Bias Crime Monitoring Form

• Increase formal research support (coordinator, capacity at NGOs)

• Dissemination of emerging findings, increased member involvement

• Refine advocacy strategy

• Increase policy engagement and support in the process of finalising

hate crimes legislation

Thank you… and questions?