Our Key Achievements
A Strong, Traveller-led Movement
ITM’s most important success has been the emergence of an increased number and stronger Traveller organisations that are able to represent and advocate for Travellers’ rights at a local level and then feed that experience into the development of evidence-based analysis to shape policy development and service delivery.
ITM as a national representative organisation
The State recognises ITM as a national representative body. On this platform, ITM has been able to effectively influence national policies on a range of issues including equality, accommodation and education, such as the Task Force for the Traveller Community (1995), Traveller Accommodation Act (1997), the Equal Status Act (2000 and 2004), and the the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022.
The Yellow Flag Programme
ITM has developed the innovative Yellow Flag Programme, an intercultural education programme that builds inclusive school environments. This programme which was established in 2009, has worked with 93 schools, and reached
over 37,000 students, and 2,900 teachers.
CENA Culturally Appropriate Homes
ITM was the innovator of CENA, the voluntary Traveller Accommodation Association. Cena as an initiative came directly from discussions in the ITM accommodation working group on how Traveller groups would have knowledge on how to develop best practice processes in building Traveller specific accommodation.
Traveller Pride
ITM developed the Traveller Pride Awards as a specific response to the erosion of Pride in Traveller identity. It has since grown into a full week of national, regional and local events to celebrate Traveller culture and identity, supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth. ITM is a proud member of the Traveller pride Steering Committee involving all national Traveller groups.
Traveller Ethnicity
ITM formed to campaign for Traveller ethnicity recognition- it was one of the central aims and reasons for our formation. ITM drove an innovative Traveller-led campaign, moving Traveller ethnicity to the Government agenda, creating cross political party visibility, enhanced international attention and endorsement by Joint Oireachtas Committees of both the Dail and the Seanad.
The work of thousands of Travellers, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally was finally successful on Wednesday 1st March 2017 as Traveller ethnicity was formally recognised by the Irish State. The campaign for Traveller ethnicity recognition was successful- the challenge for ITM and others is to build on that success and lobby for real equality and participation of Travellers in Irish Society.
The ITM Legal Unit
In 2003 the Irish Traveller Movement established a pilot Legal Unit, followed by the establishment of an Independent Law Centre for Travellers (2009) which addressed an unmet legal need within the Community of a specialist, dedicated and free legal service for Travellers, providing legal advice and representation on matters particular to Travellers, e.g. anti-Traveller discrimination, accommodation and anti-Traveller racism. Under this, a Strategic Litigation service allowed us support cases which directly changed / improved Irish law or policy as it impacts on Travellers and indirectly on other groups creating a fairer Ireland for all. Sadly, due to lack of funding the Law Centre ceased at the end of 2014.