MINELRES: New FRA Publication: First ever EU-wide survey of minorities

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Original sender: FRA <INFO@fra.europa.eu>

 
First ever EU-wide survey of minorities: Mapping Discrimination across
Europe

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will release
today (Wednesday 9 December 2009) in Stockholm the results of its survey
of over 23,000 individuals from ethnic minority and immigrant groups
about their experiences of discrimination, racist crime, and policing in
the EU. The results reveal shocking evidence about the discrimination
faced by minorities in everyday life; in the classroom, when looking for
work, at the doctor�s, or in shops. On the eve of the European Year for
Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, the FRA calls for targeted
policies to combat the marginalisation of these groups.

1 in 4 (24%) of all respondents was a victim of crime at least once in
the last 12 months.  Members of minority groups, often stereotyped as
criminals themselves, can clearly also be victims of crime in need of
assistance, protection, and support.

The survey exposes the serious lack of awareness of anti discrimination
legislation amongst ethnic minority and immigrant groups.  Almost half
(46%) of respondents were unaware that legislation exists forbidding
discrimination against people on the basis of their ethnicity in
relation to shops, restaurants, bars or clubs.  

82% of those who were discriminated against in the past 12 months did
not report their most recent experience of discrimination either at the
place where it occurred or to a competent authority.  The most common
reason for non-reporting was the belief that �nothing would happen�.  

FRA Director Morten Kjaerum: �The results of the EU-MIDIS survey reveal
the serious difficulties faced by significant numbers of those from
ethnic minority and immigrant groups in accessing the most basic of
services. Discrimination in education is particularly damaging as it can
have a negative impact on young people�s opportunities in the labour
market. Actors at all levels, from governments to service providers,
must use this evidence, collected on the ground through in-depth
interviews, to develop targeted policies to prevent the exclusion of
these groups from European societies.�

For more information please see:
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/press/mr-091209_en.htm


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