ALMOST half of migrant students in Northern Ireland have suffered racist abuse and harassment, a European human rights watchdog said today.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) said it was “deeply concerned” about a “significant recent increase” in racist attacks in the Six Counties.

“Over two-fifths of ethnic minority students in Northern Ireland have reportedly been the victims of racist bullying and harassment,” the ECRI said.

The watchdog called on schools to “take a robust approach” to the recording of racist incidents and for the teaching of black history and “Roma, ‘Gypsy’ and Traveller history or decolonisation” to be made mandatory.

Outside the education system, the ECRI also highlighted the firebombing of Belfast businesses owned by people of migrant background.

The ECRI said its investigations had found police reluctant to investigate racist attacks effectively “for fear of upsetting the fragile peace prevailing between different paramilitary groups.”

It recommended that “relevant authorities, in particular the police and other criminal justice actors, carry out effective investigations into any cases of attacks against persons with a migration background and their properties in Northern Ireland and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.”