ByJosh Jackman, Josh Jackman
London-based human rights charity René Cassin has received an award for fighting racism, particularly prejudice against the gypsy, traveller and Roma communities in the UK.
Over the past year, the charity has brought together Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Bahá'í leaders to educate and consult on how to eliminate discrimination within their communities against the traveller population.
After receiving the Together in Service award at Westminster, René Cassin director Shauna Leven expressed delight "that our work has been recognised. The discrimination gypsies, travellers and Roma face has been labelled 'the last bastion of acceptable racism'. But it is not acceptable in a modern civilised society and it is particularly important for a Jewish organisation to say so."
Campaigns officer Sam Grant added that "the reason we work with these communities is the similar tragic experiences they had during the Holocaust".
The awards ceremony was hosted by FaithAction, a British network of faith and community organisations. David Cameron said the awards were "a brilliant way of putting the spotlight on the work that faith groups do daily across the country".