Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland

Friday, December 13, 2013

ISBN: 9781784121525

The Advisory Group was established by the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs to provide independent, impartial advice on developing work to tackle sectarianism in Scotland. The report outlines the process of work and findings of the Advisory Group.

Executive Summary

The Advisory Group is entirely independent and has focussed it's work on three key areas:

- meeting with organisations and individuals to gather evidence on the understanding and impact of sectarianism in Scotland;

- examining the existing research base for evidence of sectarianism in Scotland; and

- looking at what can be learned from the many existing projects that are working to tackle sectarianism in Scotland.

These key areas have been the focus of the work and are covered in the finding, conclusions and recommendations within the report.

The report also includes a working definition of sectarianism:

Sectarianism in Scotland is a complex of perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, actions and structures, at personal and communal levels, which originate in religious difference and can involve a negative mixing of religion with politics, sporting allegiance and national identifications. It arises from a distorted expression of identity and belonging. It is expressed in destructive patterns of relating which segregate, exclude, discriminate against or are violent towards a specified religious other, with significant personal and social consequences.