MINELRES: ERIO's statement on the final adoption of the Framework decision on racism and xenophobia

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Original sender: ERIO <news@erionet.org>


ERIO�s statement on the final adoption of the Framework decision on
racism and xenophobia 

Better later than never: a very welcome and long waited success 

The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) warmly welcomes the 28th
November European Council's final adoption of the Framework Decision on
combating racism and xenophobia. 

Ivan Ivanov, ERIO�s Executive Director stated: �Although advocating for
the framework decision on racism and xenophobia took almost seven years,
it should be considered as great success: better later than never. The
decision comes at a time when Racism and xenophobia against Roma are
widespread all around Europe. Almost every day ERIO receives reports of
cases where Roma are victims of racist violence. We hope that the
decision of the Council will effectively address racist and xenophobic
attitudes across Europe. During the latest months, there have been many
examples of Roma subjected to racist attacks and such an instrument was
urgently needed�. 

Background: 

Member States will have two years to introduce severe and effective
sanctions of at least between 1 and 3 years of imprisonment against
those who intentionally publicly incite to violence or hatred, even by
dissemination or distribution of tracts, pictures or other material,
directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined
by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic
origin. Similar sanctions will apply to those who publicly condone, deny
or grossly trivialise crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and
war crimes as defined in the Statute of the International Criminal Court
(Articles 6, 7 and 8), and crimes defined by the Tribunal of Nuremberg.
Member States may choose to punish only conduct which is either carried
out in a manner likely to disturb public order or which is threatening,
abusive or insulting. 

The text also contains a reference to religion is intended to cover, at
least, conduct which is a pretext for directing acts against a group of
persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race,
colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. The European Commission
proposed a Council Framework Decision to the Council on 29 November
2001. 

For further inquiries, please contact Ivan Ivanov, +32-473-823887. 

_________________________

Visit our website: www.erionet.org 

The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) is an international advocacy
organization, which promotes political and public discussion on Roma
issues by providing factual and in-dept information on a range of policy
issues to the European Union institutions, Roma civil organizations,
governmental authorities and intergovernmental bodies. ERIO cooperates
with a network of a large number of organizations and acts to combat
racial discrimination and social exclusion through awareness raising,
lobbying and policy
development.

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