Recent country reports published by ECRI

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Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 09:30:27 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Recent country reports published by ECRI

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: ECRI <[email protected]>

Recent country reports published by ECRI


Racism Commission publishes new reports on France, Greece, Norway,
Poland and Slovakia
 
STRASBOURG, 26.06.2000 - The Council of Europe's expert body on
combating racism, the European Commission against Racism and
Intolerance (ECRI), today released five new reports examining racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism and related
intolerance in France, Greece, Norway, Poland and Slovakia.
 
The reports form part of a second cycle of monitoring of member
States' laws, policies and practices to combat racism. ECRI's
country-specific reports cover all 41 member States of the Council of
Europe on an equal footing, in the perspective of the protection of
human rights. Compiled following a contact visit to the country in
question, the second report examines the implementation of proposals
made to the government in the previous report, provides a general
up-date and also contains a deeper analysis of selected issues of
particular concern in that country.
 
ECRI recognises that in all five countries positive developments have
occurred. At the same time, the reports detail ECRI's continuing
grounds for concern. These include:
 
In France <http://www.ecri.coe.int/en/02/02/12/e0202120030.htm>,
racism and discrimination are particularly acute vis-a-vis young
people of immigrant background. Discrimination and exclusion are
matters of concern especially in employment, education, housing and
access to public places. The situation regarding undocumented
immigrants, including in some of France's overseas territories, and
the behaviour of some law enforcement officials, is also of concern.
 
Problems of racism, intolerance, discrimination and exclusion affect
particularly the Roma/Gypsy population, Albanians and other
immigrants, as well as members of the Muslim minority in Greece
<http://www.ecri.coe.int/en/02/02/12/e0202120036.htm>. These problems
are connected to the generally low level of recognition within Greek
society of its multicultural reality, an acknowledgement which is all
the more urgent given the new patterns of migration to Greece in
recent years.
 
Housing, access to employment and to services and goods are key areas
in which persons belonging to minority groups face discrimination and
disadvantage in Norway
<http://www.ecri.coe.int/en/02/02/12/e0202120053.htm>. A high level of
voter support for populist parties using racist discourse is also a
matter of concern. Despite the more multi-ethnic nature of Norwegian
society today, there seems to be a certain lack of acceptance of the
possibility of Norwegian identity encompassing persons of different
ethnic or religious origins.
 
In Poland <http://www.ecri.coe.int/en/02/02/12/e0202120042.htm>,
legislation for combating racism is insufficiently implemented, and
the introduction of legislative provisions dealing explicitly with
national and ethnic minorities is proving slow to realise. The general
attitude of society seems rather closed towards difference, and
feelings of antisemitism remain pervasive. There appears to be little
concrete knowledge or monitoring of the extent of racism and
discrimination within society, which in turn means that specific
measures to combat these phenomena are often lacking in various
fields.
 
Real problems remain in Slovakia
<http://www.ecri.coe.int/en/02/02/12/e0202120048.htm> in the
implementation of legislation to combat racism, particularly as
regards the reactions of the police and prosecuting authorities to
racist attacks and harassment. The extent of discrimination and overt
hostility towards members of the Roma community does not seem to be
fully acknowledged, and much remains to be done in all fields of life
- including education, employment and housing - to redress the
situation of this very vulnerable group.
 
ECRI's new reports will be available on the internet site
<http://www.ecri.coe.int> in English and French from 27 June 2000.
They can be obtained in the national language of the country concerned
on request: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
 
ECRI webmaster
Council of Europe - Directorate General of Human Rights - DG II
Racism - Intolerance Section
F - 67075 Strasbourg cedex
e-mail:[email protected]
http://www.ecri.coe.int

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