News: Diversity & multiculturalism

28.05.2004 A 15-year-old girl's attempt to wear strict Muslim dress in the classroom could cause unwelcome divisions in a school, the high court heard yesterday. Some might be regarded as "better Muslims" than others.

24.05.2004 The Commission for Racial Equality says targets should be set for football clubs to increase the number of ethnic minority staff or face legal action. It says too many clubs are merely paying lip service to cracking down on racism in the sport, with the majority not even adopting equal opportunities policies.

21.05.2004 Channel 4 has pulled the "Asian paedophile" programme after criticism by anti-racist campaigners and police warnings of racial tensions and disorder. The film portrays Muslim Asian men as child abusers targeting white girls as young as 11.

18.05.2004 Campaigners have accused the government of adopting an “assimilation” model for equalities, as it lays out plans to merge the current seven equalities areas into one body. The government’s White Paper includes plans to abolish the Commission for Racial Equality. Race activists have expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to offer any new enforcement powers, cash or specialist departments to deal with equalities issues.

14.05.2004 Police officers are being issued handbooks to help them understand the cultures, religions and customs of Teesside's diverse communities.

10.05.2004 The Commission For Racial Equality is seeking employers’ views on its revised code of practice to help eliminate discrimination at work.

05.05.2004 The parents of the murdered schoolboy Stephen Lawrence were dealt a blow yesterday when news was leaked, before they were even told, that their son's murderers would not be prosecuted.

04.05.2004 Tackling disproportionate unemployment among ethnic minorities is a major challenge in the UK. Minister of State for Work Jane Kennedy has visited the Ethnic Minority Outreach programme - an innovative project to address persisting employment disadvantage in the London borough of Brent, delivered by ABi Associates Ltd.

04.05.2004 The Commission for Racial Equality has signed up to a new protocol on race discrimination cases with Wales TUC. Launched at the Wales TUC conference in Llandudno on 28 April, the protocol covers the responsibilities of the CRE and trade unions in Wales in assisting people with complaints of race discrimination before an employment tribunal.

03.05.2004 After years of campaigning by the Mubarek family, David Blunkett has announced that a judicial inquiry will be held into the racist murder of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offenders Institute.