MINELRES: ECRI: Four new reports

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Council of Europe Press Release
Spokesperson and Press Division
Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60
Fax. +33 3 88 41 34 11
E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int
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Council of Europe: Four new reports on racism

STRASBOURG, 23.07.2002 - The Council of Europe's expert body on
combating racism, the European Commission against Racism and
Intolerance (ECRI), today released four new reports examining racism,
xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance in Finland, Latvia, Malta
and Ukraine.  ECRI recognises that in all four Council of Europe
member countries positive developments have occurred. At the same
time, the reports detail continuing grounds for concern for the
Commission.

In Finland, there appears to exist a certain level of prejudice and
intolerance towards those who are different from the majority (both
"traditional" minorities such as Roma/Gypsies and minorities of
immigrant origin).  Such prejudice finds its expression in
discrimination in a number of fields, including employment, housing
and access to public places, as well as in instances of harassment and
sometimes racial violence. ECRI notes that initiatives taken at the
national level to combat racism and discrimination do not always
successfully filter down to the local level.

In Latvia, problems appear to remain with regard to the situation of
the Russian-speaking population, many members of whom are still
non-citizens. These persons risk exclusion and marginalisation from
social structures and the decision-making processes. The lack of a
comprehensive body of anti-discrimination legislation and the need to
increase the effectiveness of the criminal law provisions aimed at
combating racist and intolerant expressions are also noted by ECRI.

In Malta, certain incidents of discrimination, inter alia in access to
public places such as discotheques and bars, as well as prejudices and
stereotypes within society suggest that further steps have to be
taken, both to combat concrete manifestations of discrimination and to
raise awareness and combat prejudices among the general public. ECRI
stresses the importance of combating stereotypes and prejudices since
such latent phenomena may lead to more overt forms of racism and
discrimination.

In Ukraine, problems of racism and direct and indirect discrimination
particularly affect formerly deported persons, Roma/Gypsies,
immigrants with or without legal status, asylum-seekers and refugees.
These persons experience difficulties in various areas of life,
including relations with the police. ECRI also notes the insufficient
implementation of the criminal law provisions in the areas covered by
its remit and the absence of comprehensive civil and administrative
anti-discrimination provisions.

The four new reports form part of a second cycle of monitoring of
Council of Europe member States' laws, policies and practices in order
to combat racism. ECRI's country-specific reports (available on the
internet site www.coe.int/ecri in English and French) cover all member
States on an equal footing, in the perspective of the protection of
human rights. The second reports examine the implementation of
proposals made to the governments in the previous reports; they
provide a general up-date and also contain a deeper analysis of
selected issues of particular concern in the relevant countries.


Press Release
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Ref: 385a02
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