Hi everyone, this is my last report of 2016! I've had a fantastic year, thanks so much to all of the brilliant Young Labour members I've the pleasure to work with. Check out my monthly NEC reports since March under NEC Reports on my website. Happy New Year! Jasmin Labour NEC youth rep December Report
Special NEC Equalities Committee meeting On Monday 12th December we had a special NEC Equalities committee meeting to discuss the reports into anti-Semitism and practical action we will be taking as a party. Prior to the meeting I met with various groups and members including a group of young Jewish Labour Movement members to discuss the issue around anti-semitism. The meeting with young JLM members was to explore what practical action they would like to see come out of the various reports into anti-semitism. Along with the Labour leadership we have been working incredibly hard to stamp out anti-semitism and other forms of abusive behaviour when found. We have taken steps to tackle online forms of abuse with an online code of conduct. You can find information about this here: http://labourlist.org/2016/09/the-starting-point-is-to-treat-all-people-with-dignity-and-respect-labour-clampdown-on-abuse/ The meeting began by agreeing to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism, the Government will also be signing up to this: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” Jeremy Corbyn all involved for their their work on the various reports over the past year. Jeremy condemned all forms of racism and anti-semitism and called for strong action to be taken against those found guilty of anti-semitism. This was welcomed. We were presented with a paper based on Jan Royall’s report into anti-semitism in Oxford University Labour Club in early 2016, the Chakrabarti Report and the Home Affairs Select Committee Report along with conversations with JLM and other organisations about the ongoing issue of anti-semitism in the Labour Party. The discussion took place around: - Training - Discipline - Suspensions - Sanctions - Special measures - Complaints I added that I think we need to be training candidates, potential leaders and those who set an example to members in identifying and tackling anti-semitism. I will be pushing to ensure we have an anti-semitism training session for Young Labour members at our Equalities Academy in February. Labour Students have already taken the step to introduce training with the Jewish Labour Movement in tackling anti-semitism into individual Labour clubs along with a session nationally at their Summer Training event in August. We recognise that we need to make our complaints process easier so we are appointing a national Head of Safeguarding and Complaints in the new year and establishing a dedicated complaints system. The new role will be a named contact for complainants which we hope will open up the process and make people who wish to complain feel more comfortable in doing so. This is an important step forward and I aim to meet with the new member of staff in the new year. From the meeting we have agreed the following: - We have already adopted recommendations from the Chakrabarti report but aim to develop practical rules and guidance around these points - Development of training around broader equalities issues - A new disputes and disciplinary procedure (fit for a party with half a million members) - A full time Head of Safeguarding and Complaints - All complaints to be addressed to one place to make the process more open and accessible - Investment in our governance and legal processes and dedicate more resources to these functions - A clearer suspension process - Urgent attention to any parts of the country that have been under special measures for more than sixth months We will be meeting again in 2017 to discuss further practical action and have a lengthier discussion into the discussion points. If you have any questions around this report or want to get in touch send me an email: [email protected] I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year! Jasmin Labour NEC Youth Rep
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AuthorHere are my Monthly NEC Youth Rep reports and my full NEC meeting reports, starting from March 2016 I'll keep this updated so you know what's going on. Archives
January 2018
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