Law Centre NI has submitted a critical response to the Northern Ireland Executive's draft Framework for Race Relations and Delivery Plan 2026–28, arguing that its approach could undermine racial equality progress.

The organisation contends that the framework replaces the established legal term "racial equality" with "race relations." It states that "racial equality" carries clear obligations under international and domestic law, while "race relations" risks reframing systemic inequality as interpersonal tension and ignores structural causes of racism.

Law Centre NI highlights that no Stormont government has ever passed race equality legislation on its own initiative. The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 was introduced under direct rule, and subsequent updates were driven by EU law requirements. The submission calls legislative reform an absolute priority.

The response notes that racially motivated crime in Northern Ireland is at its highest recorded level, making the progression and implementation of hate crime legislation urgent.

The Law Centre criticises the draft framework for lacking clarity, measurable actions, defined timelines, indicators of success, and accountability mechanisms. It points out that the Independent Reviewer of the previous Racial Equality Strategy 2015–2025 found the absence of a clear action plan undermined that strategy, and the new framework appears to repeat the same shortcoming.

The submission also observes that the document is silent on immigration, despite the deep interconnection between immigration policies and race equality. Law Centre NI says the framework should address the racial injustice caused by the UK's hostile environment policies and the overlap between racist violence and paramilitarism.

The Law Centre urges Executive Office policymakers to listen to civil society organisations and commit to the necessary actions to achieve racial equality.