To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the progress made to the end of May 2020 on the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-25; and (ii) what aspects of the strategy remain to be implemented.

Good progress has been made in implementing key actions in the Strategy to date, specifically:

•The structures to support delivery, including the Racial Equality Subgroup (to act as the voice of minority ethnic people) and Racial Equality Champions in each Department, are now in place. They are developing a joint work programme and approach.

•A review of the Race Relations (NI) Order and relevant aspects of other legislation is now complete with a view to consulting on proposals later this year.

•Research into ethnic monitoring, which also includes the potential for amendments to our Fair Employment legislation, has been completed and we are considering the draft report to inform future proposals. Our work on ethnic monitoring will support the establishment of an improved evidence base.

•A review of the delivery model for the Minority Ethnic Development Fund (MEDF), a key element of our policy for racial equality and good race relations, is now complete and work is ongoing to implement the remaining recommendations.

•Work with the Department of Education (DE) to identify ways to tackle racist bullying in schools is underway. Officials are also engaging with DE and DoJ along with a range of other agencies on tackling the enabling factors of hate crime. This is supported by the sub group who are also engaging with the PSNI to agree actions to increase identification and monitoring of race hate crime.

•We have established a Travellers Thematic Group and a Strategic Planning Group on Travellers and Roma and work continues on the establishment of a Thematic Group on Roma.

•We are currently considering a draft Refugee Integration Strategy which we intend to bring to consultation later this year.

As the Strategy is for the period 2015 – 2025, implementation will be ongoing throughout. There are eleven proposed actions summarised in the strategy and of these two are fully implemented as they relate to the formation of a Racial Equality Subgroup and appointing of Racial Equality Champions within the Departments. The remaining 9 actions are progressing and will continue throughout the lifetime of the strategy.

As acknowledged in the Strategy’s foreword we are under no illusion about the size of the challenge involved in tackling racial inequalities and that it will require time, effort and resources.