On behalf of Kernow Rydh
In some European countries – such as the United Kingdom – censuses, held every 10 years, are an important part of understanding the particular characteristics of a population. They create a detailed snapshot of society, providing governments and local authorities with data through which to plan public services, allocate funding for infrastructure (such as schools, roads, and hospitals), and inform policy on socio-economic issues.
Consequently, it is imperative that minoritised groups are statistically visible in censuses, to ensure that they are not further discriminated against (willfully or accidentally), in government decisions, policy, and the allocation of resources. However, some minoritised groups are not included in national censuses. Cornwall is one such example.
For many decades, Cornish political activists have campaigned hard for a Cornish ‘tick box’ in the census, which is held every 10 years. However, to date this has not yet happened. Planning for the 2031 census is now well underway and it is important that Cornish people are finally made visible in the census. 2014, the Cornish were recognised as a national minority by the UK Government through the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCPNM).
The Framework Convention is a significant international treaty and sets out numerous obligations. These include support for language and culture, education and the media, the greater visibility of national minorities in public life, the protection of historic territories, more opportunities on the international stage, and so much more.
The official government press release stated that “the decision to recognise the unique identity of the Cornish, now affords them the same status ... as the UK’s other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.”
This matters because current research suggests that Cornish people may find it more difficult to access vital infrastructure and services. For example, recent research conducted by the University of Exeter Institute of Cornish Studies into housing found that Cornish people are more likely to live in low-value housing, and experience housing precariarity. Such an important detail is not made clear in official statistics, meaning that resources cannot be allocated in a targeted manner to change this injustice. But sadly, the UK Government and the machinery of the UK state is (i) not treating the Cornish equally with the other national/national minority groups of the United Kingdom and it is (ii) failing to meet its obligations through the FCPNM.
Considering that:
1. Census data is so important for the fair distribution of government resources.
2. Inclusion in official statistics is an issue of minority rights.
3. EFAy’s core principles include the recognition of Stateless Nations.
Kernow Rydh propose that EFAy:
1. Call for all nations without states to be included in official data gathering
2. Call for the UK government to grant a Cornish ‘tick-box’ in the 2031 census.