Conference to debate city race hate crime

Tollcross-based pro-migrant group, The Welcoming Association, is spearheading the forum running in Edinburgh.

The event will bring together agencies, including NHS Lothian, Edinburgh City Council, Lothian and Borders Police and Edinburgh University, to debate cultural issues.

The concept is one of the first proposals born from a new migrant working group led by city councillors Maureen Child and Jim Orr that met for the first time on December 13. Welcoming Association convenor Joyce Juma Phiri said Edinburgh was well behind Glasgow in terms of tackling migrant issues, with no central body providing leadership.

She said hate crime was a problem the Scottish Government was keen to tackle, adding: “We want to discuss hate crime, but also areas of diversity, inclusion, community cohesion. It’s all inclusive in terms of equality.

“I want people to bring their issues to the conference, so that we can find a direction to work in. I think Edinburgh is a bit behind compared to Glasgow.”

Organisers are aiming to get 100 officials to the conference, which, has yet to set a date.