MINELRES: E-NEWS: European-wide Action Week against Racism; Media Release

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Original sender: UNITED <info@unitedagainstracism.org>


E-NEWS UNITED 17/03/04: MEDIA RELEASE European-wide Action Week against
Racism


20 - 28 March 2004: European-wide Action Week Against Racism
"Racism: Spot it and Stop it!"


Europe stands up against racism: activities in 40 European countries

"We're full of prejudice. We don't judge people by their deeds, but 
through the lens of our prejudice" said Ladislav Durkovic of the 
Slovakian NGO 'People Against Racism'.

 From 20 to 28 March 2004, various non-governmental-organisations in 
more than 40 different European countries will raise their common 
voice against one common European problem: racism.
21 March was declared 'International Day for the Elimination of All 
Forms of Racial Discrimination' by the General Assembly of the UN as 
a reaction to the murder of 70 demonstrators in Sharpeville, 
South-Africa, in 1960.
Also in 21st century Europe, racism still keeps on affecting people's 
minds, thoughts and deeds. This year NGOs in countries such as 
Azerbaijan, Cyprus, France and Ireland concentrate on anti-racist 
education and big nation-wide campaigns with hundreds of different 
events are launched in Finland and Germany.

Racism: Spot it and Stop it!
A few months before the European Union enlarges eastwards, the 
general public all over Europe is alerted about the situation of the 
Roma minority in Slovakia. Racism, discrimination and stigmatization 
have led to a social uprising, despair and violence. But the 
situation of minorities and migrants is frightening not only in 
Slovakia, all over the continent, a dark shadow called racism is 
laying over our societies, sometimes obvious, sometimes hidden. This 
"hidden", silent racism is not less dangerous: it leads consequently 
to violence and "open' discrimination. The European-wide Action Week 
Against Racism 2004 aims to Spot this European-wide problem in order 
to Stop it.

Additional Information:
UNITED for Intercultural Action is a network of 560 organisations all 
over Europe working against racism and fascism. Activities at the 
local level in the framework of the campaign around 21 March are 
carried out by organisations from 40 European countries. The campaign 
is co-ordinated by the UNITED International Secretariat. A full list 
of activities is accessible on http://www.unitedagainstracism.org 
(under 'campaigns'/ 21 march). Please contact the UNITED office for 
further information. We will be happy to supply you with contact 
information of an organisation near you that is involved in the 
campaign.


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UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support 
of migrants and refugees
Postbus 413   -  NL 1000 AK Amsterdam
phone +31-20-6834778  -  fax +31-20-6834582
info@unitedagainstracism.org  -  http://www.unitedagainstracism.org
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