Oxfam Cymru Statement on the Rise of Hateful Language in the Public Realm
Oxfam Cymru is deeply concerned by the unacceptable use of language in last week’s Senedd plenary sessions (16–17 June), where racist and derogatory remarks were made that risk inflaming division and hatred in our communities.
We strongly condemn all forms of hateful language and stand firm in our anti-racist, feminist and decolonial values. There is no place for intolerance in our public or political spaces.
Oxfam works globally to tackle poverty, inequality, humanitarian crises and the climate emergency, guided by feminist and decolonial principles that prioritise justice and dignity. Language is never neutral, it shapes power, influences public attitudes, and can either challenge or reinforce inequality.
Cymru is proud of a set of values rooted in its history and identity, community solidarity, equality and cultural resilience.
We are a nation that has long championed peace, fairness and partnership, and in recent years has embedded these principles in law, most notably through the world-leading Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015).
It is therefore with deep disappointment that we see elements of public discourse being denigrated by those who would use divisive and intolerant language to sow division and hatred amongst our communities.
Too often, harmful views are repackaged as legitimate concern - presented as patriotism or anti-immigration sentiment - while reinforcing racism and xenophobia towards marginalised and racialised groups.
This is not happening in isolation. Across the UK, there is a growing trend of divisive rhetoric being normalised within political debate, as short-term political gain is prioritised over the safety and cohesion of our communities. At a time of real economic hardship and uncertainty, it is deeply irresponsible to exploit people’s frustrations by spreading misinformation and scapegoating communities, rather than addressing the root causes of inequality.
Rising inequality and declining living standards are already placing immense pressure on communities across Cymru. We know that those most affected - including racialised communities - are too often unfairly blamed in moments of crisis, diverting attention from the structural causes of poverty and injustice.
In Cymru, we also see that, such rhetoric often follows a familiar pattern: taking events out of context, which often do not have direct relevance to Cymru, using it to push a demonstrably false narrative in defiance of facts and reality, ignoring those who would correct and rectifying the misinformation being peddled. While these conversations, undoubtfully, exist in informal settings, they must not be normalised or amplified in our civic and political institutions, where standards should be higher.
Oxfam Cymru calls for everyone with a sense of dignity and common decency in public life to challenge derogatory behaviour wherever they witness. Regardless of political affiliation or background, we all have a responsibility to call out prejudice — not to tolerate it or be drawn into it.
We will always stand against division and hatred, and for equality and fairness.
Hade Turkmen, Acting Head of Oxfam Cymru said,
‘The strength of our democracy in Cymru has always rested on respect, solidarity, care and evidence, and a shared commitment to the common good. When debate slips into division and distortion, it diminishes not only our institutions but the communities they represent and serve. We should expect more from our public discourse, and from those who hold public office, that it reflects the values we hold dear, that disagreements are robust but rooted in truth, that language challenges ideas without demeaning others, and that it brings us closer together rather than pulling us apart’.
The Oxfam Racial Justice Team said
‘We know from history that prejudice and division do not appear overnight, they are normalised when harmful language is left unchallenged. Cymru has made real progress in embedding equality, dignity and human rights into public life, and we must not take backward steps towards an era where bigotry was more easily excused or ignored. Public debate should help build understanding and solutions, not deepen fear or suspicion. Those with a platform have a responsibility to use it with care, to challenge intolerance, and to stand with communities who too often bear the brunt of divisive rhetoric’.
History shows that when this kind of rhetoric is left unchallenged, it does not stop with one group; it spreads, deepens division, and weakens the foundations of a fair and inclusive society, and justice. We all have a responsibility to challenge it wherever it appears, and to ensure our public discourse reflects the values of respect, dignity and truth that Cymru stands for.
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