UKYP National Campaign 2016: Dont Hate Educate

Campaign Brief
Campaign Aim: Reduce racism and religious discrimination in our communities
Following over 95,000 young people voting tackling racism and racial discrimination as a
priority issue; and Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) voting to make this the national
campaign and the 2015 House of Commons Sitting, UK Youth Parliament will be working to
reduce racism and religious discrimination in their communities.
Over the next year, UK Youth Parliament will campaign to challenge negative attitudes
around race and religion; work with others to educate their communities in order to tackle
ignorance around race and religion; and promote integration in communities.
Campaign objective
1) Change discriminatory attitudes of young people towards race and religion
2) Raise levels of understanding about different races and religions, communities and
cultures
3) Challenge negative images of race and religion on social media
4) Promote diversity and inclusion within communities
Why is this important?
There has been an increase in race and religion related hate crimes across all the
Nations in the UK apart from Scotland; but young people agreed that 1 victim of this
type of hate crime is one too many.
England and Wales race and religion hate crimes in (2014-2015):

42,930 Race related hate crimes reported 15% increase from

the year before

3,254 Religion related hate crimes reported 43% increase

from the year before (Home Office)

Northern Ireland race and religion incidents and crimes (2014-2015:

2,277 race related incidents and crimes reported 36%

increase from the year before

80 religion related crimes and incidents reported 116%

increase from the year before (Police Service of Northern
Ireland)

Scotland race and religion hate crimes (2014-2015):

3,785 race related hate crimes reported 9% decrease

compared to the year before

569 religiously aggravated crimes reported 4% decrease from

year before (Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service)

Young people believed that negative images in the media and ignorance were the
main causes of racism and religious discrimination in their communities. They
agreed that if these were not addressed it would cause further segregation in society;
would allow people to develop and hold discriminatory views; cause people to fear
other groups that they may not understand and create tension in society.
How are we going to do it? (Campaign Actions):
Through a range of national, local and social media actions, we will promote diversity and
tackle racism and religious discrimination through informal education. MYPs are encouraged
to work with other elected representatives and young people to achieve the overall aim.
National Action
-

On National Day of Action, MYPs and local elected youth representatives meet with
MPs to discuss Dont Hate Educate.

On National Day of Action, MYPs and local elected youth representatives meet with
their Head of School/ Form Teacher/Head of Year to discuss the campaign and ask
for permission to hold an event/assembly/session to raise levels of understanding on
different races and religions, communities and cultures.

Local Action
-

MYPs work and local elected youth representatives with students to hold an
assembly/event/ session in school to educate students on different religions and
cultures; to promote diversity; and create a safe space to ask questions about
different cultures and religions.

Social Media Action

-

MYPs and other young people share a series of social media posts developed for the
campaign. These posts will celebrate diversity and challenge negative attitudes.