Pavee Point (1985) is a voluntary or non-government organisation, which is committed to human rights for Irish Travellers. The group comprises Travellers and members of the majority population working together in partnership to address the needs of Travellers as a minority ethnic group who experience racism and exclusion. The aim of Pavee Point is to contribute to improvement in the quality of life and living circumstances of Irish Travellers through working for social justice, solidarity, socio-economic development and human rights. The work of Pavee Point is based on two key premises:

• Real improvement in Travellers’ living circumstances and social situation requires the active involvement of Travellers themselves.

• Non-Travellers have a responsibility to address the various processes, which serve to exclude Travellers from participating as equals in society.

Pavee Point has worked to improve the lives of Traveller children for the past 20 years. In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Pavee Point seeks to ensure that: the voices of Traveller children are heard, their identity and culture are respected, they are protected from discrimination, and their right to intercultural education becomes a reality.

The innovative work of Pavee Point is varied and complex. Actions have been modeled focusing on intercultural education and training, information dissemination, youth work, community development, anti-racism, gender equality, networking nationally and internationally, the Traveller economy, Travellers’ cultural heritage, primary health care, early childhood and pre and in-career training or those working with Travellers.

Who are Irish Travellers?

Irish Travellers are an indigenous minority group who have been part of Irish society for centuries. They have a value system, language, customs and traditions which make them an identifiable group both to themselves and to others. While Irish Travellers are native to Ireland they have much in common with European Roma, Travellers, and Gypsies. The experience of exclusion and discrimination, and having to resist polices of assimilation in order to retain their ethnic identity, is one which Irish Traveller and European Roma and Gypsies share and easily recognise.

Ireland

Tel: 353 18780255
Fax: 353 1 874 2626

E-mail: pavee@iol.ie
http://www.paveepoint.ie