The Government must recognise Travellers as a distinct ethnic minority, the community said today.
Pavee Point, the National Travellers Centre, also demanded that a statutory agency is set up to tackle the problems they face.
The centre made the appeal as it published its shadow report to the UN hearings on the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
According to Pavee Point's assistant director Mr Martin Collins, Ireland's official report to CERD states that Travellers are a not separate ethnic group and has marginalised the community.
"We are at the back of the Government report, which is indicative of how the community is viewed," he said. "We are at the back of the class, the back of the room and once again at the back of the official documents."
He added: "It would seem that attitudes from the general population are getting worse, and there's a hardening of prejudice and racism."
Pavee Point says that despite policy aimed at Travellers there is a lack of implementation on health, education and employment.
The non-governmental organisation's director, Mr Ronnie Fay, said: "We are calling on the Government to set up a statutory Travellers agency to monitor and and influence Government policy.