Speech by Mark Durkan MP MLA SDLP Leader
SDLP Civil Rights Seminar
Belfast

29 September 2007

It is very encouraging to see so many young people here today.

But what is most encouraging is the quality of discussion and debate we have heard this morning. Clearly the passion for civil and human rights among young people is alive and well. As strong today as it was a generation ago, when Paddy O’Hanlon, John Hume and many other young men and women marched for equality, justice and fair play for all citizens regardless of religious faith or political outlook.

Inspired by the example set by Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. That violence is not only morally bankrupt, but that it ultimately destroys that which it claims to defend. And that peaceful challenge and non-violent resistance are much more powerful tools for achieving change.

Motivated by a deep desire - not just to take on the awful discrimination that locked so many people here into a cycle of deprivation, disadvantage and poverty - but to take forward the vision for a better country for all.

On these values the SDLP was founded. By these values the SDLP stands today.

Our mission now, as then:

A Better Ireland. Our people united under the principles of democracy, equality and respect for diversity. Living free of prejudice, poverty and disadvantage. Able to fulfill their potential, get a good education, earn a fair wage and live in a decent home. Not just standing tall for our own rights here, but for the rights and welfare of other citizens of this world as well.

Nearly four decades ago a generation of young people like you took a stand for a better Ireland through the Civil Rights Movement.

They wanted to do the best they could, not just for themselves but by the communities they lived in as well.

They looked out on a changing world and hungered for positive change in their world.

They not only saw injustice and inequality, they suffered it. And they rose against it in the campaign for civil rights.

Stood strong for the principle that all people are created equal and should be treated with equal respect and guaranteed equal opportunity.

Marched to challenge an old, unjust order and to create a new, fair one.

And changed the face of our society for the better and for ever.

That’s what that generation of young people achieved. The question I want to ask is: what will yours achieve?
SDLP constituency postbags and e-mail inboxes tell the true story of the character of young people. Every day of the week, local young people are contacting me - more often to lobby on behalf of others than for themselves.

Urging me to support good campaigns for a better deal for developing countries. To lobby government ministers for trade justice, debt relief and more & better aid for Africa.

To support environmentally sound ways of tackling climate change and promote different ways of protecting our planet’s resources now and into the future.

As well as, of course, to work to secure new jobs, better services, proper investment and safer streets for everyone. So that they are assured of the opportunities they deserve to fulfill their potential in their home place.

All these issues and more matter to our young people. They matter deeply to the SDLP. But what matters most is the stand we are all willing to take for them together. That’s what will make the difference.

We need to stand together for the right to fair play from a system that has delivered too little and needs to give us much more.

We have to stand strong for the rights of young people to be able to go out at night free from the fear of being attacked. And for all older people to sleep sound in their beds at night.

We need to stand determined to uphold the rights of women to earn equal pay with men.

We must stand up for the rights of our children not to be labeled as failures or left behind. As well as for the fundamental rights of children in developing countries to have access to clean water, basic medical services and the better future they continue to be denied.

We have to stand resolute by people with disabilities, whose rights should be equal with all others.

Stand firm by the rights of the people of Ireland, who voted so strongly for the Good Friday Agreement, and now want its institutions to be used to improve the lives of all its people.

Stand strong for the rights of all people to live free from sectarian intimidation, racist abuse or homophobic assault.

Stand up for what we know to be right. For the more inclusive society, the more prosperous economy and the better country we should all want for ourselves and for each other.

ENDS

SDLP Youth has condemned the proliferation of racist and xenophobic material from Northern Ireland being carried on social networking sites such as Bebo. Many profile pages can be found promoting proscribed organisations and terrorist groups based here.

SDLP Youth member Liam McNulty said: “Bebo should be an environment for people to interact and make new friends without being exposed to hatred and bigotry. There are pages representing far-right organisations, loyalist and republican terrorists and groups expressing extreme racist views.

“While we support the principle of freedom of speech, it is clear that Bebo needs to take action to crack down on hate pages on their network. Bebo is used by many children and the vast majority of users should not have their online experience marred by such content. Bebo has a responsibility to eradicate pages which carry extreme sectarian or racist language.

Liam concluded: “We have appealed to Bebo to remove such vile material, but as yet they have not done so. We are calling on anyone who has noticed these pages to put pressure on Bebo to have them removed.”

SDLP Youth is launching its new logo at Queen’s University Freshers’ Fair. The unveiling of the logo, which depicts a rose and a star, coincides with an upturn in activity by the group.

SDLP Youth Chairman Gary McKeown said: “We are launching our new logo as we refocus on our core principles and concentrate on the issues that matter to young people across the north.

“Since 1970, the SDLP has been at the forefront of promoting equality, democracy and social justice. SDLP Youth is determined to continue this fight. We also want to celebrate our global links with Socialist International and the Party of European Socialists.”

“Our new logo reflects SDLP Youth’s strong social democratic outlook as we move forward.”

Copies of the logo can be viewed online: http://www.sdlpyouth.com/gallery/v/newlogo.jpg.html

SDLP Leader Mark Durkan MP MLA will visit Queens University and St Mary’s University College Fresher’s Days tomorrow (Wednesday 25th September).

Mr Durkan will visit the SDLP Youth stall and tour the Freshers Bazaar at Queens University at 11.30am.

Mr Durkan will then travel to St Mary’s University College at 1.00pm to undertake a similar engagement.

All press and photographers are welcome to attend.

SDLP Youth has called for European retailers to ensure that Asian garment workers are given stronger rights. This comes as workers in Bangladesh who produce clothes for the western market protest to demand better conditions and pay.

SDLP Youth Chairman Gary McKeown said: “It is easy for people on this side of the world to turn a blind eye and pretend that this has nothing to do with us, but the fact is that it is our demand for cheap clothing that is keeping these workers’ wages so unbelievably low. Big business cannot be allowed to use this consumer appetite for cheap products as an excuse to absolve itself of its responsibilities to the people who toil to make these goods.

“Women in Bangladesh making clothes for major supermarkets sometimes earn as little as 5p an hour, working up to 14 hours a day. Demands by some retailers that suppliers cut prices are one reason why the women’s wages are so low they cannot afford to feed themselves and their families properly.”

He added: “SDLP Youth has recently launched its ‘Think Before You Buy’ campaign to let shoppers know about the plight of these foreign workers. We understand the need for families here to have access to reasonably priced clothing, especially when it comes to buying school uniforms, but with supermarkets and clothing retailers making record profits, we don’t think that this should be at the expense of the basic rights of foreign workers.

“SDLP Youth is calling on retailers to recognise the fundamental rights of workers in countries such as Bangladesh, and to avoid passing the financial burden of upholding these rights onto consumers. If companies cannot trade ethically and fairly without ripping off consumers, then they shouldn’t be in business.

“The best way for shoppers to send a clear signal to retailers who refuse to protect the rights of foreign workers is to boycott their products.”

ENDS

SDLP Youth is hosting a seminar in Belfast on Saturday 29th September 2007. Its title is “Civil Rights in the 21st Century”. It will discuss historical civil rights movements here in Northern Ireland, current civil and human rights challenges and what is to come.

Invitations have been sent to members, supporters and friends of SDLP Youth. If you would like to attend this conference and/or book accommodation please contact John O’Doherty on 028 9024 7700 or email john.odoherty AT sdlphq DOT ie . Places are limited so please book early.

More information: Civil Rights in the 21st Century (PDF)

SDLP Youth have called on the Irish government to encourage Irish television and radio stations to broadcast on the digital free-to-view platform in Northern Ireland.

SDLP Youth Vice-Chair Peter Armstrong said: “The majority of households in Northern Ireland now receive digital free-to-view television and radio, yet none of the southern broadcasters has applied to broadcast on the platform.

“SDLP Youth calls on the Minister for Communication Eamon Ryan TD to use his departments influence to encourage broadcasting companies to join the digital platform. The government has a duty to extend the scope of availability of Irish broadcasting in Northern Ireland.”

“Residents who want to watch RTE currently have two options. They can fork out on cable TV services or have a special analogue aerial with signal-booster installed. These options are both expensive and inconvenient when people in the north have already invested in digital receivers for most television sets. The digital TV switchover in Northern Ireland is well underway and the old analogue TV services are to be switched off.

“There is nothing to prevent RTE, TV3, TG4, and other channels having broadcasting space on the Freeview system in Northern Ireland. There are three myths about broadcasting on Freeview which I can gladly dispel. Firstly, there would be no requirement for them to broadcast in other parts of the UK.

“Secondly, although other broadcasters are shareholders in Freeview, they would not block Irish broadcasters applying. Hundreds of independent companies have applied, including Scottish Gaelic and Welsh broadcasters, whose programming schedules remain completely independent.

“Thirdly, RTE claims that it cannot broadcast directly in the north due to broadcast licensing rights. This is not true, as they make special dispensations for broadcasting on Virgin Media, which they could also apply to free-to-view digital.

“There is no excuse why RTE or other southern broadcasters could not operate on digital free-to-view, and open up their channels to a completely new audience.”