Young Gypsy/Travellers - Article 12 Scotland UK, Youth Right's, News and Information

New publication: Getting it Right for Young Gypsy/Travellers -Report

In this year long survey we asked young Gypsy/Travellers, their peers from the ‘settled’ community and those working in a professional capacity to: “tell us what you think that we, the government and other organisations, should be doing to make sure that young Gypsy/Travellers can exercise their rights to voice and opinion on matters that effect them, and to live free from prejudice?” Click here to download a copy of the report.

AXE THE ACT PETITION

Justine and Megan at the Petition hearing, 20th April 2010

Our petition to have the Trespass Act Scotland removed from Scottish Government guidelines on managing Gypsy/Traveller temporary/halt sites had its first hearing by the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee (PPC) on 20th April. Following examination of our evidence the PPC decided the following actions should be taken before a final decision is made:

Ask the Scottish Government:

Will you remove, and if so when, the Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865 from all future guidance on the management of Gypsy/Traveller temporary and halt sites? If not, why not? What is the case for it to remain?
What progress have you made towards your commitment to “review our guidance on site management for local authorities in consultation with Gypsies/Travellers, including children and young people in the Gypsy/Traveller community”?
Does section 3 of the Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865 to move on 16 year olds Gypsy/Travellers from transient/temporary/halt sites, contravene Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?
How often is the 1865 Act being applied in the context described by the petitioner?
Does all Scottish legislation concerning the management of Gypsy/Traveller temporary and halt sites conform to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

Write to the Scottish Gypsy Traveller Association and the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller Law Reform Coalition for their opinion on the petition.

Write to a Selection of local authorities (Angus, Edinburgh, Highland) asking:

What are your views on the petition and do you support what it calls for?
How often is the 1865 Act being applied in the context described by the petitioner?

The second hearing of our petition will take place in September, watch this space for further updates!

Read media articles about our 'Axe the Act' petition to the Scottish Government:

The Courier 22nd April 2010

Press and Journal 21st April 2010

Press and Journal 7th April 2010

*New resource: Show Racism the Red Card has recently launched Out of Site an education pack aimed at tackling racism towards Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. Click here to download a copy.

ygtl

NEW STUFF!

Click here to download the draft human rights charter for young Gypsies/Roma/Travellers.

Click here for a brief guide to planning procedures - for Gypsy/Travellers.

Click here to read the outcomes report of our awareness raising workshops at Youngscot's 'We're Here' Equalities Conference.

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YGTL MYTH BUSTING MISSION

We have been travelling around the country raising awareness of our traditions, culture and lifestyle. Using our Myth Buster Quiz we have encouraged hundreds of people to rethink their attitudes towards Gypsy/Travellers. Events we have presented at include: the Scottish Government's Race Conference, Respect Me's third annual Anti-Bullying Conference and YoungScot's Equality Conference.

Did you know?

Beth, our researcher, has been kept busy these past few months finding out all sorts of interesting facts and figures on our behalf. She is also helping us to put the outcomes of our ongoing survey research into a report which will be available here on our webpage in April 2010. In the meantime, we would like to share some of those interesting facts and figures with you; take a look below.

Famous Gypsy/Travellers
It's a long list but even so we might have missed someone out. Feel free to send us names to add to it.

Click here to find out how many Gypsy/Travellers live in the UK

Our project is all about equality and human rights. Part of that is asking the government to include us in any new laws they pass. This is not as straightforward as it seems as the Scottish Government has only certain powers to make changes. Click here to find out what powers the Scottish Government does and doesn't have.

To find out how many Gypsy/Travellers live in Scotland the Scottish Goverment does a twice yearly count of families living on sites. For a number of reasons many people believe that this is not a good way to gather this information. The Scottish Government is now reviewing this practise and has asked individuals and organisations to give their views and opinions on what would work better. Click here to read our response.

YGTL: Young Gypsy Traveller's Lives Conference Report

Click here to read the conference report and here to read Paloma Fra's presentation on the Spanish Roma and European funding opportunities.

Here are some other information links you might find interesting: