MINELRES: ECRI's new country reports

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


ECRI'S LISTSERVE

ECRI releases reports on Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, San Marino and
Serbia
 
ECRI released today five new reports examining racism, xenophobia,
antisemitism and intolerance in Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, San
Marino and Serbia. These are the last reports of ECRI’s third round of
country monitoring work. 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 Liechtenstein, the Government adopted a five-year National Action
Plan to Combat and Prevent Racism. Many different measures have been
taken to train officials and to raise awareness among the general public
about the need to combat racism and racial violence. But despite
measures taken by the authorities, Muslims still face some obstacles in
practising their religion and children of immigrant background are still
faced with disadvantages in access to education. 

In Malta, the legal and institutional framework against racism and
racial discrimination has been strengthened and primary
anti-discrimination legislation covering different areas of life has
been introduced. But irregular migrants, asylum seekers, persons with
humanitarian protection and refugees remain vulnerable to racial
discrimination in accessing different services and to exploitation on
the labour market. The legal provisions against racist expressions and
racially-motivated offences are not yet fully applied. 

In Moldova, new legislation was introduced, outlawing extremist activity
in fields related to racism and intolerance. The new Labour Code adopted
in 2003 contains anti-discrimination provisions. However there is a
problem of inadequate implementation of the existing law in many fields
which are of importance to combating racism and racial discrimination.
At the same time, no comprehensive body of civil and administrative
anti-discrimination legislation has been adopted.  

In San Marino, a number of initiatives have been taken to raise
awareness of issues of racism and racial discrimination among the
general public, notably in the framework of the Council of Europe’s “All
Different All Equal” campaign. Opportunities for teachers to acquire
competencies in the field of intercultural education and for pupils to
increase their knowledge of human rights have been increased. However,
comprehensive civil and administrative legislation prohibiting
discrimination in all fields of life still remains to be adopted.  

Serbia has taken a number of measures to combat racism and intolerance
and is a party to Protocol No.12 to the European Convention on Human
Rights which contains a general non-discrimination clause. But although
a bill on discrimination has been drafted, Serbia has not yet enacted
exhaustive provisions against racial discrimination in the area of civil
and administrative law. The Criminal Code is still too seldom applied to
persons who commit racist offences. 

http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/Ecri/

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