MINELRES: New ECRI reports: Albania, Croatia, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom

[minelres@lists.microlink.lv]

Original sender: ECRI <Combat.Racism@coe.int>


ECRI releases reports on Albania, Croatia, Poland, Sweden and the United
Kingdom
 
ECRI released today five new reports on racism, xenophobia, antisemitism
and intolerance of its third monitoring cycle on Albania, Croatia,
Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 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 five of
these Council of Europe member countries. At the same time, however, the
reports detail continuing grounds for concern for the Commission:

In Albania, a "National Strategy for the Improvement of Living
Conditions of the Roma" has been developed that sets out to eliminate
discrimination towards Roma in different fields of life. However, ECRI
is of the opinion that there have been few detectable improvements in
the situation of Roma and Egyptians who suffer from a situation of
particular marginalisation and neglect in Albanian society. The
disproportionate number of Roma and Egyptian children who are victims of
trafficking is also a problem of particular concern to ECRI.  

http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Albania/Albania_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage

In Croatia, a Commission of Experts Working on Combating Discrimination
began its work in 2004 and has prepared a National Strategy against all
Forms of Discrimination. But the problems surrounding the acquisition of
nationality encountered by persons of non-Croatian origin who have lived
in the country for a long time have not yet been fully resolved.
Substantial progress remains to be made concerning the return of
refugees and displaced persons, especially in the matter of
housing.           

http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Croatia/Croatia_CBC_3.asp#P119_10765

In Poland, some measures have been taken in favour of the cultural and
linguistic rights of national and ethnic minorities. However, there is
still no comprehensive body of civil and administrative legislation
prohibiting discrimination in all fields of life. ECRI is concerned that
cases of racial hatred are rarely investigated and prosecuted while
publications containing racist, and particularly antisemitic material
are still available on the market. 

http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Poland/Poland_CBC_3.asp#P109_10844

In Sweden, a system to monitor progress towards the achievement of
integration objectives has been put in place. But the situation of de
facto segregation in residential areas and schools still runs counter to
efforts to promote an integrated society. The active presence of racist
organisations in Sweden and their activities, including the widespread
dissemination of racist propaganda notably through the Internet, are
still of concern to ECRI. 

http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Sweden/Sweden_CBC_3.asp#P92_7012

In the United Kingdom, a strategy has been launched to promote community
cohesion and race equality throughout the country. But, in spite of
initiatives taken, members of ethnic and religious minority groups
continue to experience racism and discrimination. Asylum seekers and
refugees are particularly vulnerable to those phenomena, partly as a
result of changes in asylum policies and of the tone of the debate
around the adoption of such changes. 

http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/United_Kingdom/United_Kingdom_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage
 

************************************************************************

WELCOME to ECRI�s listserve. This list serve has been created to inform
our key partners on a regular basis on the latest developments and
events concerning ECRI. Rapid reaction is key to combating racism
effectively on all levels and this listserve should therefore provide
our partners with up-to-date information to be used in their day-to-day
work.

Subscribe/Unsubscribe: combat.racism@coe.int
************************************************************************

---------------------------------------------
This message was sent using Endymion MailMan.
http://www.endymion.com/products/mailman/ http://www.microlink.com/