MINELRES: ECRI releases reports on the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Hungary

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Roma Network <romale@zahav.net.il> 



ECRI releases reports on the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Hungary
 
http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/Ecri/
 
ECRI released today four new reports on racism, xenophobia, antisemitism
and intolerance of its third monitoring cycle on the Czech Republic,
Germany, Greece and Hungary. The third round country reports focus on
�implementation�. They examine if ECRI�s main recommendations from
previous reports have been followed and implemented, and if so, with
what degree of success and effectiveness. 
 
ECRI recognises that positive developments have occurred in all four of
these Council of Europe member countries. At the same time, however, the
reports detail continuing grounds for concern for the Commission:
 
In the Czech Republic, there have been few noticeable improvements in
the situation of Roma, whose marginalisation from mainstream society
continues through their �ghettoisation� in substandard housing complexes
on the outskirts of cities. Racially motivated violence and
ill-treatment of Roma by the police continue to be problems of concern.
ECRI also raises a number of issues with regard to asylum seekers and
migrants, such as the worrying detention of children.     

In Germany, racist, xenophobic and antisemitic violence continues to be
a matter of concern to ECRI, particularly affecting asylum seekers,
members of the Jewish communities, Roma and Sinti. Further efforts are
needed to ensure that non-citizens and people of immigrant background
enjoy genuinely equal opportunities in all fields of public life.
Progress is still needed in recognising the positive role of
immigration, as partly reflected by the stigmatisation of immigrants,
asylum seekers and refugees in public debate.      
 
In Greece, there remain stereotypes, prejudices and incidences of
discrimination targeting members of minority groups, particularly the
Roma community and minority religious groups, as well as immigrants. The
position of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace should improve
further. The situation of immigrants is far from being completely
regulated, and there is still no comprehensive, targeted integration
policy on immigration. 
 
In Hungary, the progress made in dealing with the problems of racism,
intolerance and discrimination remains limited in a number of respects.
The Roma minority remains severely disadvantaged in most areas of life,
particularly in the fields of health care, housing, employment and
education. Some shortcomings in law and practice concerning the rights
of refugees and asylum seekers have been identified. Moreover,
initiatives taken at national level to combat racism and discrimination
do not always successfully filter down to local level.  


Press Contact
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60  - Fax. +33 3 88 41 39 11
E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int