MINELRES: ECRI's Listserve: NEW country reports

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


ECRI'S LISTSERVE

ECRI releases reports on Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Portugal and
Slovenia
 
ECRI released today five new monitoring reports on racism, xenophobia,
antisemitism and intolerance in Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Portugal and
Slovenia. The 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 Armenia, the authorities have amended the Constitution to provide for
equality before the law for everyone under Armenian jurisdiction. But no
comprehensive body of civil and administrative anti-discrimination
provisions has been passed. The Yezidi minority continues to face
problems with regard to land, water and grazing issues and some members
of this community have still not acquired property titles for their
land. 
REPORT: 
http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Armenia/Armenia_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage


In Georgia, new criminal law provisions have been introduced to prohibit
racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred. But members of
non-traditional religious minorities can still be exposed to physical
attacks on them or their property. A number of shortcomings must be
remedied in asylum law and practice. The authorities are insufficiently
aware of the situation of some minority groups such as Roma and
migrants, and do not monitor it sufficiently. 

REPORT:
http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Georgia/Georgia_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage

 
In Iceland, the State has assumed increasing responsibility and
ownership in the field of meeting asylum seekers� reception needs. But
the legal framework to combat racism and racial discrimination still
remains to be strengthened and better implemented. The position of
immigrant women who are victims of domestic violence continues to be a
cause for concern to ECRI. 
REPORT:
http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Iceland/Iceland_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage 

 
In Portugal, the High Commission for Immigration and Ethnic Minorities
has been restructured and strengthened (this institution actively works
to facilitate the integration of immigrants and to combat racism and
racial discrimination). But Roma/Gypsy communities still suffer from
social exclusion. Access to education, to public services and to housing
remains problematic for these communities. 
REPORT:
http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Portugal/Portugal_eng_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage 
 

In Slovenia, the legal framework against racial discrimination has been
strengthened through the adoption of primary antidiscrimination
legislation covering different areas of life. But the situation of those
persons who were unlawfully erased from the register of permanent
residents in February 1992 has not yet been solved. In the absence of an
overall strategy to simultaneously address all areas where Roma
experience disadvantage and discrimination, the members of this group
are still in need of special support in order to enjoy equal
opportunities with the rest of the Slovenian population. 
REPORT:
http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-
country_approach/Slovenia/Slovenia_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage

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