The Rainbow Project has submitted a briefing to the Justice Committee on the hate crime provisions within the Criminal Justice (Sentencing, etc.) Bill.
We welcome the progress being made to strengthen hate crime legislation in Northern Ireland, but we believe there are still important gaps that need to be addressed to ensure all communities are properly protected.
Our briefing highlights the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people affected by hate crime, the barriers many people face when reporting incidents, and the importance of making sure the law reflects the realities faced by marginalised communities today.
We’ve also set out a number of recommendations for how the Bill could be strengthened before it becomes law.
You can read our full briefing below.