PRESS RELEASE

A European Spring against hatred

Brussels, 4 April 2012 – From the counter-demonstration in Aarhus, Denmark, to protests against the far right in German cities on 31 March, to an upcoming anti-extremist march in the Czech Republic on 7 April, Europeans have decided to mobilise and react ‘en masse’ against far right ideas and the hatred they spread.

During the far right rally in Aarhus, Denmark, on 31 March, thousands of counter-demonstrators outnumbered the couple of hundred far-right protesters against the alleged ‘Islamisation’ of Europe. At the same time, counter-protests also took place in Germany. In Lübeck, approximately 2500 people assembled to protest the annual march held by the far right to commemorate the 1942 bombing of the town. Protest marches against neo-Nazism, gathering several hundred people, also took place in the towns of Dortmund and Havel. And on 7 April, a counter-protest will be held in Most, in the Czech Republic, to oppose a further far-right march on a Roma housing estate.

The growing number of people engaging actively in counter-marches against neo-Nazi and far-right initiatives gives a loud and clear signal that the far right has no place in the mainstream.

Chibo Onyeji, ENAR Chair, said: "We are finally witnessing the dawn of a ‘European spring against racism’. Europeans are starting to draw a firm stance against far-right and similar extremist ideologies saying: ‘that’s not the Europe our parents fought for 60 years ago!’"

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR), with member organisations in every EU country, praises the courage of these thousands of individuals to stand up against the hatred propagated by the far right. ENAR urges for decisive support for equality and respect across Europe and calls on progressives to join ENAR’s fight by actively rejecting the far right in the mainstream.

"These counter-marches are a crucial first step in pushing far-right movements and parties back into the margins. The next stage is to build on this momentum and ensure that far-right parties disappear from ballots and the political landscape because people are embracing an open, progressive and inclusive Europe for all", said Onyeji.

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September 2011 was a joyous day for progressive people in Denmark. The election heralded a new chapter in the form of an unbelievable victory of humanist parties, humiliating defeat of the anti-minority and Islamophobic Danish People’s Party and the election of the first female Prime Minister of Denmark. What more can one expect in one night?"

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) is a network of more than 700 NGOs working to combat racism in all EU member states. ENAR aims to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to promote equality of treatment between EU citizens and third country nationals.

Germany bans its biggest neo-Nazi group

Germany has banned its largest neo-Nazi association, the HNG, which supports prisoners with far-right views and their families, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday, the government's latest step to curb the influence of radical groups.

The Help Organization for National Political Prisoners and their Families (HNG) is, say German authorities, a threat to society and works against the constitution.

With the slogan "A front inside and outside," the HNG seeks to reinforce prisoners' right-wing views and motivate them to continue their struggle against the system, said the ministry.

"It is no longer acceptable that imprisoned right-wing extremists are being strengthened by the HNG in their aggressive stance against the free, democratic order," Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said in a statement.

"By rejecting the democratic constitutional state and glorifying National Socialism, the HNG tried to keep right wing radical criminals in their own milieu," the ministry said.

The group, founded in 1979, has some 600 members. The ban follows raids in which police seized material from leading HNG members across Germany.

Although far-right groups attract most support in the eastern states, where unemployment is high and prospects few, the raids took place in western states including Bavaria and NorthRhine-Westphalia.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said that far-right groups have in the last few years sought to use the financial crisis and euro zone debt crisis to prove that the capitalist system has failed.

The ban comes two weeks after the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD), which espouses the end of parliamentary democracy, regained seats in the state assembly of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also represented in Saxony.

Right wing groups in Germany, including the NPD, are more radical than populist, anti-immigration parties in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Sweden which have enjoyed greater success at the ballot box.

Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution describes the NPD as racist, anti-Semitic and revisionist and says its statements prove its inspiration comes from the Nazis. The party says the German constitution is a "diktat" imposed by victorious Western powers after World War Two.

Germany has banned several right-wing groups in the last few years but critics say the government needs to do more to weed out extreme views which permeate society.

"It is a sensible, if overdue, step to ban a criminal Organization like the HNG," said Anetta Kahane, head of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation which supports projects to boost civil society.

"But we need to do more to educate people so that they can resist right-wing ideas. For example, judges and the police need to be educated to deal with extremists," she told Reuters.

"The problem of neo-Nazis has not gone away."

The police and judicial systems in several eastern German states have been condemned for failing to recognize and tackle the problem of neo-Nazi crime.

 On the eve of Year for People of African Descent, Ban calls for final end to racism

 

10 December 2010 – As the United Nations system gears up to celebrate 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered an impassioned plea today to the world community to eradicate racism once and for all

The international community cannot accept that whole communities are marginalized because of the colour of their skin,” he told an event at UN Headquarters in New York to launch the Year. “People of African descent are among those most affected by racism. Too often, they face denial of basic rights such as access to quality health services and education. Such fundamental wrongs have a long and terrible history. The international community has affirmed that the transatlantic slave trade was an appalling tragedy not only because of its barbarism but also because of its magnitude, organized nature and negation of the essential humanity of the victims.Even today, Africans and people of African descent continue to suffer the consequences of these acts,” he added, calling for their full integration into social, economic and political life and at all levels of decision-making.The General Assembly proclaimed the Year in December 2009 in a resolution citing the need to strengthen national actions and regional and international cooperation to ensure that people of African descent fully enjoy economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, to advance their integration into all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and to promote a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture.As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms, ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,’” Mr. Ban said. “If we are to make those words real, then we must eradicate racism once and for all. The success of the International Year requires concerted efforts across the United Nations system and at the regional and national levels, with the widest possible engagement and participation.”Also addressing the event was the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonovic, who said the International Year offers a unique opportunity to redouble efforts to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that affect Afro-descendents in all parts of the world.The International Year must become a milestone in the ongoing campaign to advance the rights of people of African descent and it deserves to be accompanied by activities that fire the imagination, enhance our understanding of the situation of people of African descent and are a catalyst for real and positive change in the daily lives of the millions of Afro-descendents around the world,” he told the gathering.

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UN links students around world to honour victims of slavery

26 March 2010 – United via videoconference, hundreds of students and teachers around the world gathered today to conclude a week of United Nations events commemorating the International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

This is a great opportunity to share with your fellow students the diversity and similarities of peoples of African descent, and the spirit of African culture,” Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information (DPI), told a UN Headquarters hall in New York filled to capacity with 500 students and teachers.Additional students joined virtually from Banjul, Gambia Accra, Ghana Kingston, Jamaica St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago and Wiltshire, United Kingdom.History has shown us that culture is one of the most poignant and powerful ways in which slaves and their descendents have overcome the cruel legacy of slaveryIn Havana, Cuba, students took part from the helm of a replica of the ship Amistad, which is retracing the route of the slave trade.

 

Thousands demonstrate against racism 
Over 4,000 people gathered in central Stockholm on Monday to demonstrate for diversity and against racism, with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats in focus as the party took its place in parliament for the first time.

The demonstrators gathered on Sergels Torg in central Stockholm to listen to speeches and then began a march towards Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, on Myntorget.

Behind the demonstration were the anti-racism groups the "September Alliance", Stockholm's anti-racist culture association, and various Facebook groups, with speeches held by, among others, Left Party leader Lars Ohly.

Similar, if smaller, demonstrations were held across the country on Monday evening.

The demonstration was a repeat of the massive spontaneous turnout on the day after the Swedish general election, which left the Sweden Democrats with 5.7 percent of the vote and 20 seats in parliament.

Monday was the first day the new members of parliament gathered in the chamber, for a roll-call and to vote on various officials, including the speaker and deputy speakers.

The Sweden Democrats had attempted to use the speaker election to push for negotiations with the major parties as the party stood to hold the balance of power, but neither the Moderates nor the Social Democrats took up the offer.

While the Sweden Democrats in the end elected to vote with the Alliance candidate, Per Westerberg, the party's 20 votes had no impact on the outcome as he was returned to the post by 194 votes to 153.
ENAR press release welcoming Commissioner Reding’s strong reaction to France’s anti-Roma policies
ENAR issued a press release on 14 September welcoming the strong statement made by Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner responsible for justice and fundamental rights, following the unearthing of a 'circular letter' from the French administration instructing local authorities to evict settlers from illegal traveller settlements, giving “priority to those of Roma”. This letter blatantly contradicts previous assurances by members of the French government that specific ethnic groups had not been targeted in France. ENAR also welcomed the European Commission’s intention to launch an infringement procedure against France for discriminating against the Roma under free movement laws.
 
ENAR Denmark press release: “United Nations wants the top leadership of Danish Peoples Party prosecuted”
ENAR Denmark issueda press release on 10 September following a judgement by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on a case of racism against the Somali community by the Danish People's Party. In its judgment the Committee wrote; “Denmark has broken the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by not taking the cases against these two politicians as they spoke negatively about Somalis and circumcision”. The UN Committee also concluded that the statements “were negative generalizations against a whole group of people" and criticized Denmark for failing to carry out an effective investigation. Read more
 
 
Football Against Racism in Europe Action Week

Between 14 and 26 October the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network is calling for action in around football stadiums across Europe during a co-ordinated Action Week. With support of UEFA and the European Commission FARE calls upon the European football family to come together for the 11th FARE Action Week against Racism and Discrimination in Football. Besides activities by professional clubs and leagues such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, the FARE Action Week will give fans, minority groups and grassroots football teams across the continent the opportunity to come together to celebrate the integrative power of the game.

YFJ press release on ‘Youth on the move’ initiative

The European Youth Forum issued a press release on 15 September following the adoption of the “Youth on the move” initiative. In times of crisis, it is especially important to tackle the current situation of youth unemployment. A four months “Youth Guarantee”, a quality framework for internships and adequate social safety nets for young people are among the proposals included in the Communication that the Youth Forum have long advocated.

OECD ‘raise your hand’ action on education

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has launched “Raise your hand”, an initiative to gather votes on the most important action they need to take in education. The deadline for voting is 15 October. The top five ideas will be shown to education ministers, business leaders, technical experts and academics during the Education Policy Forum at the OECD in Paris on 4 November. Education ministers will be invited to respond to the ideas at that time.

Amsterdam scraps integration tests for some long-term residents

Amsterdam city council is to stop making obviously well-integrated foreigners who have lived in the capital for years take a compulsory integration course and language test. Dozens of fully-integrated, long-term residents have been summoned to take the tests over the past few years, and it is an insult to some of them, given their position in society, according to a city official. Amsterdam is now to focus its efforts on new arrivals.

Sweden Prime Minister warns of peril in far-right vote

Sweden’s prime minister has warned voters that economic stability would be threatened if they allow the far-right Sweden Democrats to enter parliament for the first time in this Sunday’s election. Fredrik Reinfeldt said it would be harder to govern Sweden if the party, best known for its hostile stance towards immigration, gains the 4 per cent support needed to win seats. Recent opinion polls have shown the party hovering just above the threshold. His comments were part of a last-minute push by Sweden’s mainstream parties to prevent the Sweden Democrats from making an electoral breakthrough in a country that has long prided itself on the absence of far-right parties in parliament. Opinion polls have consistently shown Mr Reinfeldt’s centre-right Alliance with a solid lead over the centre-left opposition but, if the outcome is close, the Sweden Democrats could end up as kingmakers.

  • Campaigners call for ban on David Irving trip to Nazi death camp

Polish and British anti-racism groups this week urged their governments to ban a tour of a Nazi death camp and other Holocaust sites in Poland by controversial British historian David Irving. Marcin Kornak, head of the Warsaw-based Never Again Association, made the call in a joint statement with Britain's Searchlight anti-fascist group posted on his organisation's website. "We urge Polish and British authorities to have a firm reaction to and to not allow this shameful visit which offends the memory of the victims of the war and the Holocaust," he said. Irving, who was jailed in Austria in 2006 for denying the Holocaust, plans a September 21-29 guided tour of sites in Poland dating back to the World War II Nazi German occupation.

  • 75% of Belgian employment agencies prepared to discriminate
An undercover report made by the Belgian Flemish television has revealed that three-quarters of employment agencies are prepared to discriminate against non-whites. Although the employment agencies generally don’t practice racism when recruiting job-seekers onto their books, they are prepared to exclude ethnic minority candidates if their customers request that they do so. The Centre for Equal Opportunities and the multi-cultural pressure group Kif Kif have called on politicians, the judicial authorities and the social inspectorate to take action against employment agencies that practice discrimination at their customers’ behest. After calls for action from the Centre and various pressure groups, the Flemish Employment Minister Philippe Muyters said that the number of checks on employment agencies has been increased over the past year.
 
  • Italy's Roma wonder about 'legal' camps
As the city of Rome dismantled illegal Roma settlements this past week, many Gypsies were wondering whether the Italian capital would finally make good on a promise to move them to "legal" camps. Rome's mayor Gianni Alemanno has pledged to tear down all of the estimated 200 illegal camps on the city's outskirts and build three legal ones, overseen by local authorities, to add to the seven already in place in and around Rome. The new legal camps in Rome should be ready by the end of next year and should be able to host up to 6,000 nomads. Rome's municipality estimates there are currently more than 7,000 Roma nomads in and around the city, but non-governmental organisations place that number well above 10,000.
 
 News from ENAR 3.september 2010
 
ENAR organises EU-wide protest against France’s xenophobic policies
  • Following recent developments in France targeting and stigmatizing migrants and especially the Roma population in the name of ‘security and public order’, ENAR and anti-racist NGOs in several EU member states are organising demonstrations on Saturday 4 September in front of French embassies to protest against the xenophobic policies put forward this summer by the French government and to show solidarity with French anti-racist NGOs' nation-wide demonstration on the same day. A silent demonstration will also take place in front of the French embassy in Brussels (Boulevard du Régent 42) at 14.00.
  • Press release: “Has the current anti-Roma climate in Europe triggered a ‘license to kill’?”

ENAR issued a press release on 31 August expressing deep concern about the recent shooting of 6 members of a Roma family and another woman in Bratislava, Slovakia on 30 August. This murder reflects the emergence of a climate of negative stereotyping directed against Roma minorities across Europe. ENAR is extremely worried that recent discriminatory measures and statements targeting the Roma population and stigmatising this ethnic group in a number of countries, including France, Italy, Denmark and Sweden, have led to a climate of impunity for those who want to target this population.

 

Commission study on the use of age, disability, sex, religion or belief, racial or ethnic origin and sexual orientation in financial services

Civil society organisations report cases of alleged discrimination based on e.g. sex, age, and disability in the provision of financial services, in particular in the insurance and banking sectors. The European Commission has therefore commissioned a study identifying current practices of financial service providers with regard to the use of age, disability, sex, racial/ethnic origin, religion/belief, and sexual orientation in the supply and design of financial products, as well as actual and potential problems of discrimination and existing measures to prevent discriminatory practices.

  • Head of OSCE human rights office warns against stigmatizing Roma and Travellers

Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw, said this week he shared concerns about recent developments in France affecting Roma migrants and Travellers, and warned that such actions risked fuelling intolerance and discrimination. He said he was troubled by the approach of French authorities to the matter of the legal status of Roma migrants in the aftermath of riots by some French Travellers. Lenarcic emphasized that public officials needed to be especially sensitive to the risk that statements about Roma could further encourage anti-Roma public discourse and prejudice, which could fuel intolerance, discrimination and even acts of violence against members of these communities

  • Commissioner Hammarberg: Need to halt transfers of asylum seekers to Greece

“Asylum seekers, including persons transferred under the ‘Dublin Regulation’, face extremely harsh conditions in Greece” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, in a hearing before the Strasbourg Court on 1 September concerning the case of an Afghan asylum seeker returned from Belgium to Greece. In his first-ever oral intervention as a third party before the European Court of Human Rights, Commissioner Hammarberg provided his observations on major issues concerning refugee protection in Greece, including asylum procedures and human rights safeguards, as well as asylum seekers’ reception and detention conditions. Read more

  • FRA factsheet on the fundamental rights position of Roma and Travellers in the EU
The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) has published a factsheet presenting in a nutshell some of the key findings of the FRA’s research on the situation of Roma and Travellers in the EU. Some 10-12 million Roma and Travellers are currently living in the European Union. Almost all of the Roma and Travellers living in the European Union are EU citizens and have the same rights as any other EU citizen. Evidence has shown that they are more likely to face discrimination and social exclusion than majority populations.
 
 
NEWS FROM ENAR 13.august 2010
  • Two Runnymede publications on older ethnic minority people
The Runnymede Trust, member of UKREN, ENAR’s UK national coordination, has recently published two reports on older ethnic minority people. ‘The Future Ageing of the Ethnic Minority Population of England and Wales’by Nat Lievesley, commissioned by Runnymede and written by the Centre for Policy on Ageing, gives a detailed estimate of theethnic make-up of the older population ofEngland and Wales overthenext 40 years. Another report from Runnymede’s financial inclusion teamidentifies the often hidden costs that older people seeking to retire abroad may face: ‘The Costs of 'Returning Home': Retirement Migration and Financial Inclusion’, by Dr Omar Khan and Phil Mawhinney.
 

NEWS FROM OTHER NETWORKS

  • FEANTSA press release: ‘France Still Violating Travellers’ Housing Rights’

FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless, issued a press release last week, pointing out that the decision of France’s President, Nicolas Sarkozy, to “close illegal Roma and Traveller camps and deport illegal migrants” has once again highlighted France’s inadequate response to the needs of Roma people and Travellers.FEANTSA hopes that the French government’s commitment to increase the number of stopping places for Travellers will be fulfilled without delay and that the living conditions will meet acceptable standards. This could reduce the number of people obliged to set up illegal camps and enable countries to respect Travellers’ and Roma people’s housing rights.

Informal young migrant project launched to bridge European representation gap: call for participants

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) has launched a project to represent young migrants and young people with migrant background. The Youth Forum will facilitate the start up an informal platform of organisations for the project, coordinating the open and initially informal process. The project should also address the existing representation gap of young migrants and young people with migrant background at the European level. The project will strive to achieve greater participation and inclusion of young migrants and young people with migrant background. The European Youth Forum has therefore launched a call for youth organisations working on the topic to express an interest to join the project's platform. The deadline for applications is 30 August 2010.
 
 
NEWS FROM EUROPE 
An investigation into claims by a whistleblower that asylum seekers are mistreated, tricked and humiliated by staff working for the UK Border Agency has found cause for "significant concern" and makes several recommendations for change. The investigation by the agency's professional standards unit was triggered by a report in the Guardian that revealed the concerns of whistleblower Louise Perrett, a UKBA case owner who worked for three and a half months in the Cardiff office during the summer of 2009. These revelations also led to Perrett giving evidence before the Commons home affairs select committee. Perrett said some of her colleagues expressed anti-immigration views and took pride in refusing asylum applications.
  • Proposed amendment to Finnish Aliens Act draws fire

Who should be responsible for the subsistence of an elderly person who has moved into Finland? This question has surfaced when the Finnish Ministry of the Interior has been working on proposed amendments to the Aliens Act following the furore among Finns relating to the deportation decisions of two grandmothers - Egyptian citizen Eveline Fadayel and Russian citizen Irina Antonova - made by the Finnish Immigration Service. According to the draft bill, the grown-up child of an elderly immigrant parent will have to be able to provide for his or her livelihood in Finland, if the parent cannot support himself or herself. The purpose is to establish the subsistence possibilities when the parent in question is applying for a Finnish residence permit for the first time.

  • Racism may lie behind attack on athlete in Ireland

Gardaí (Irish police) in Limerick, Ireland, who were this week investigating a serious assault on a champion Ethiopian athlete have not ruled out a racist motive. They also want to find out why the attack was not reported to Gardaí. Lebeta Debela, 22, who won the Limerick half-marathon last May, was knocked unconscious while out running on Knockalisheen Road. Supt Frank O’Brien from the Gardaí said they were concerned that a serious assault should be carried out on any person, especially a foreign national. "We would be very concerned about a serious assault. If there was a racist undertone to it, that would be a particularly distressing and worrying development, if this victim was targeted because of his race. We are very anxious to try and identify the culprits."

  • France faces rough ride in UN anti-racism panel
The UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 12 August entered the second and final day of its regular review of France’s application of international standards, with French officials due to respond to questions from the body. On 11 August, several of the 18 experts on the UN panel made unusually sharp comments about the state of racial discrimination in one of Europe’s biggest nations. The treatment of Gipsy communities, the debate on national identity and immigration, minority rights and a hardening political discourse were questioned, in the midst of heightened political debate in France over those issues. Malik Salemkour of the League for Human Rights, a French pressure group, described the hearing as an unprecedented grilling for France.
 
  • 2009 report on EURODAC

The 2009 annual report on the activities of EURODAC (the EU wide biometric tool which helps determine which Member State is responsible for examining an asylum claim), was published last week by the Commission. The report gives essential information on patterns of asylum seeking and illegal entry in the EU. Figures show that in 2009, the number of registered asylum applications rose by 8%, which means that the increasing trend of the previous two years continued. At the same time, the number of registered irregular entrants changed dramatically in 2009. After a rise of 62.3% between 2007 and 2008, the number of transactions fell by 50% in 2009.

  • FRA has published five calls for tenders
Based on its 2010 Work Programme, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has published five research related calls for tenders. The calls for tenders are the following: ‘Data collection and research services on fundamental rights issues’ (Deadline: 28 September 2010); ‘Access to Justice - A sociological study on cases of discrimination in the EU’ (Deadline: 17 September 2010); ‘The treatment of third-country nationals at the EU’s external borders’ (Deadline: 13 September 2010); ‘Inequalities and multiple discrimination in access to health’ (Deadline: 27 September 2010); and ‘Pilot/pre-testing for a FRA survey on violence against women’ (Deadline: 20 September 2010).
 

 

 

UNITED NATIONS

 

On the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the world to step up efforts to improve living conditions of the planet’s indigenous communities and to protect them, saying they continued to suffer discrimination and poverty despite a United Nations declaration that aims to promote their rights. In her statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, stressed that the gap between the principles of the declaration and the reality remains wide, with indigenous peoples continuing to suffer discrimination, marginalisation in health and education, extreme poverty, disregard for their environmental concerns, displacement from their traditional lands and exclusion from participation in decision-making processes.  

ROMA ISSUES

Suspects caught in murders of Roma in Hungary are extreme-right promoters

The Hungarian State Investigation Office (NNI) has completed its investigation into a series of anti-Roma attacks in 2008 and 2009 during which six Roma were murdered including a five-year-old child. NNI is now suggesting prosecutors indict four detained suspects. The attacks occurred at nine separate places. They involved 78 instances of gunfire and Molotov cocktail attacks on seven homes. Police say the attacks are exceptional not only in the annals of Hungarian crime, but in those of Europe. András Tóth of the NNI said that three of the four men detained are suspected of having fired shots at the Roma. Police say the fourth detainee was the driver in two anti-Roma attacks. News server Novinky.cz reports the detainees are promoters of extreme-right organizations.

Makeshift tents and laundry hung to dry on trees near the car park of Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland, had to leave, along with 32 foreign Roma who had set up camp there, when police evicted the group on 9 August. Police patrols have served eviction notices on a weekly basis to camps of itinerant Roma around the city at the request of the Public Works Department of the City of Helsinki. Printed notices have been handed out at dozens of unauthorised camps around the Finnish capital. Helsinki has a policy of zero tolerance toward unauthorised camping. Read more

  • Romani CRISS petition condemning the French government’s fundamental rights violations

As French public authorities announced during the last days, Roma from Eastern Europe are to be immediately evicted from France, despite the fact that these measures represent a clear violation of EU legislation. Romani CRISS is protesting against the recent initiative of the French government to stigmatize, collectively deport and unlawfully limit the fundamental rights of the Roma and Travellers, particularly freedom of movement. They have launched a petition condemning the French government’s fundamental rights violations.

  • ‘Roma Rights’ edition on implementation of judgments
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) has published the latest issue of its ‘Roma Rights’ newsletter, which is dedicated to a consideration of implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments and other decisions of international adjudicatory bodies. Although implementation problems plague national justice systems, the European and international systems, without coercive enforcement mechanisms, present particular challenges to implementation at the national level.
 

The tenth edition of the bi-annual European Anti-Discrimination Law Review is out now in English, French and German. This issue includes an article on the Sources of United States Equality Law and an article on the Prohibition of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination in Access to Services under EU Law. In addition, the present issue provides an overview of the European anti-discrimination law and policy latest developments, updates on the case-law of the European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights, as well as important developments of the EU Member States.

  • New issue of ‘The Equal Rights Review’ published by the Equal Rights Trust

The Equal Rights Trust recently published Volume Five of ‘The Equal Rights Review’, an interdisciplinary biannual journal intended as a forum for the exchange of legal, philosophical, sociological and other ideas and practical insights for those who are promoting equality. This volume also contains a special section on Kenya.

  • New book: 'Assistance to victims of discrimination by equality bodies of the EU member states'
A new PhD by Danish Institute for Human Rights researcher, Bjørn Dilou Jacobsen, entitled 'Assistance to Victims of Discrimination by Equality Bodies of the EU Member States - a Scandinavian Perspective', concludes that although European equality bodies play a crucial role in protecting individuals from discrimination, better guidelines are required in many EU countries to increase their effectiveness. By comparing the Scandinavian equality bodies, the author calls attention to how establishing equality bodies with competence to hear and investigate complaints raises certain legal issues which may diminish the ability of these bodies to provide assistance to victims of discrimination effectively.
 
CONFERENCES & EVENTS:Eurodiaconia conference: ‘An ecumenical understanding of poverty’

In the framework of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, Eurodiaconia is co-organising this conference with CEC, Comece and Caritas Europa on 30 September 2010 in the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference will bring together Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the other European institutions and representatives of the different churches, of Caritas and Diaconia from all European countries. It will also be an occasion for the four organisations to launch their common recommendations on poverty and social exclusion to the European Union and its Member States. The conference will close on the opening of an exhibition of the work of Christian actors across Europe in tackling poverty and social exclusion. The deadline for registration is 13 September 2010.

15th International Metropolis Conference

The City of The Hague will be hosting the 15th International Metropolis Conference from 4 to 8 October 2010 in The Netherlands. The conference is a prestigious international event dealing with the topics of migration, integration and citizenship. The 2010 International Metropolis Conference will focus on questions of belonging. It will deal with various aspects of belonging, the opportunities and challenges it poses in the context of legitimacy and justification of processes of migration and integration, as well as their consequences for social policies. In doing so this conference will contribute to a better understanding of how governments and international bodies can deal with different forms of belonging in multicultural societies and a globalised world.
 
The European Disability Forum is recruiting a Policy Officer

The European Disability Forum is looking fora dynamic policy officer with good knowledge in social, employment policies and human rights. He/she should be committed to a human rights and social model approach to disability, and have an understanding of social policy in relation to disability policies. This position is based in Brussels and is aunique opportunity toadvocatehuman rightsbefore the Europeaninstitutions.The deadline for applications is 30 August 2010.

  • Volunteer Position at PICUM

The Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrant Workers (PICUM) is looking for a volunteer to begin immediately updating the database. This will involve inputting the contact details of members and relevant organisations into the database as well as making sure that the information already contained in the database is up to date.The work is unpaid and is two days a week. Read more

6.august 2010

  • ERPC statement following France’s measures targeting Roma and Travellers

The European Roma Policy Coalition (ERPC), of which ENAR is a founding member, issued a statement on 30 July urging EU Member States to stop stigmatizing Roma and Travellers after France’s announcement of repressive measures. The ERPC expressed deep concern over the measures announced by France on 28 July which collectively implicate French Travellers and migrant Roma. It also called for a stronger reaction by the European Commission towards President Sarkozy’s discriminatory discourse.

  • Summer issue of the Runnymede Bulletin

The first summer edition of the Runnymede Trust’s quarterly magazine, the Runnymede Bulletin, is now available online. The Summer 2010 Bulletin takes the theme of representation and participation, offering the usual timely and thought-provoking articles and analysis. The Bulletin includes articles on race equality in British politics, the representation of ethnic minorities in the media and the high exclusion rates in academy schools. A Q&A with Hope not Hate's Nick Lowles gives an insight into the successful campaign to keep the BNP out of London's Councils and Dr Rosalind Edwards writes about recent research on the experiences and racism faced by single mothers bringing up mixed-raced children. 

  • Joint MRAX and MRAP press release on the situation of Travellers
The two oldest anti-racist organisations in France and Belgium, the MRAP and the MRAX, both ENAR members, have issued a joint declaration concerning the present situation of Travellers. The current attacks on Travellers are too serious to stay without a firm reaction.
 

NEWS FROM OTHER NETWORKS

  •  
    EAPN presents its proposals on the European Platform against Poverty

The Europe 2020 Strategy includes, as one of its 5 key targets, a target to reduce poverty by 20 million people, to be delivered through a flagship initiative: the ‘European Platform against Poverty’. The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) has presented its key proposals on the European Platform against Poverty: transform the Social OMC into dynamic EU and National Platforms against Poverty; develop mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of current instruments and move forward on establishing European frameworks to guarantee EU social standards; mobilize EU financial instruments to support the development of social and sustainable service infrastructure, demonstration projects and better participation and governance promoting civil dialogue; ensure that Social Inclusion objectives are mainstreamed across Europe 2020.

  • Amnesty International press release on the detention of minors in Greece
Amnesty International called on the EU to examine the detention practices of Greece. In a letter to the European Commission, the organisation highlighted the poor treatment of asylum-seekers and irregular migrants in the country, with the detention of unaccompanied minors of a particular concern. Amnesty International’s report, ‘Greece: Irregular migrants and asylum-seekers routinely detained in substandard conditions’, shows that asylum-seekers and irregular migrants in Greece are detained as a matter of course, rather than as a last resort. Through this practice the government is failing to abide by international obligations, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as EU laws which clearly stipulate that detention only can be justifiable if no alternative measures are possible, and moreover should always be decided on a case-by-case basis.
 
 
NEWS FROM EUROPE 

Opposition politicians have accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of using the language of the far-right in a bid to regain some popularity as he fights low poll ratings. The accusations followed a strongly-worded speech on 30 July in which Mr Sarkozy made an overt - and until now mainstream taboo - link between immigration and crime. He said French nationality should be stripped from anyone of foreign origin who threatened the life of a police officer and suggested that a minor who committed offences should not automatically acquire French nationality upon adulthood. The president made the speech in the south eastern city of Grenoble, the scene of recent riots following the killing of a suspected armed robber by police in a shoot-out. The rhetoric has been seen by the opposition and some newspaper commentators as an attempt to lure back the part of the population that has been seduced by the policies of the far-right National Front.

  • Dutch minority government set to form with far-right backing

One of the most conservative Dutch governments ever was in the offing last weekend, with the conservative-liberal election winners of the VVD party agreeing on a minority coalition with the centre-right Christian Democrats and backed on a case-by-case basis by the far-right anti-Islam Freedom Party of Geert Wilders. After almost two months of failed talks between all the major parties across the political spectrum, on the weekend it appeared that the three parties had coalesced on a formula that would not give the Freedom Party (PVV) a role in government or any cabinet positions, but would see the party back a minority coalition on confidence votes. In return for the support of the Geert Wilders on the key demand of the VVD, the other two parties agreed to support additional immigration controls and a law-and-order agenda.

  • Sweden's far-right party gains support

The United Minds-Cint poll handed the Sweden Democrats (SD) a record 6.5 percent support - well above the four percent threshold for entering parliament. Nearly 46 percent of people intended to vote for the ruling centre-right coalition while 45 percent said they would vote for the left-wing opposition coalition, the poll of 2,004 people between July 12 and August 1 showed. With less than a percentage point difference between the two main blocs, the right-wing SD party, which has never before made it into parliament, would likely become the kingmaker of the election, observers said. The four parties in the centre-right coalition and the three main leftist opposition parties have ruled out cooperating with SD but observers say it could be difficult to block the far-right party from the decision-making process.

The stand-off between British business and the coalition government over plans to cap immigration was threatening to turn into open conflict after it emerged that many companies would not be allowed to hire any non-European staff for the rest of the financial year. Lady Jo Valentine of London First, a lobby group representing many FTSE 100 companies, described the measures as “economically insane”. The issue is fast becoming one of the biggest early tests for David Cameron, the prime minister. The idea to limit non-European Union workers coming to the UK was a popular part of the Conservative party’s election manifesto. However, several of Mr Cameron’s cabinet colleagues have raised profound doubts about the cap, arguing that it would damage Britain’s competitiveness and anger important trading partners such as India.

  • Danish historian Lars Hedegaard charged with racism
The Danish media reported on 3 August 2010 that the Copenhagen Public Prosecutor has decided to charge the organisation Free Press Society and its president, historian Lars Hedegaard with racism. The charge relates to his use of words in an interview on the blog Snaphanen from December 2009. Hedegaard spoke about Muslims and their family relationships and said: “They rape their own children. (...) Girls in Muslim families are raped by their uncles, their cousins or their fathers. (...) Women have no value. They are not humans. Their function is as the uterus to produce - the offspring’s of warriors, to creating new warriors”. For more information, contact Bashy Quraishy:
 
 

The European Commission on 13 July announced plans to ease restrictions on seasonal migrant workers and make it easier for companies to transfer high-skilled employees into the European Union. The initiative reflects the Commission's ambition to re-engage with immigration policy following the adoption of its 2020 blueprint for economic growth. The Commission now wants to create a fast-track procedure which will make it easier for seasonal workers - mainly in agriculture and tourism - to obtain fair contracts for the services they provide. It should also make it easier for seasonal workers to renew these agreements and will place a greater onus on employers to protect them from exploitation or abuse. Meanwhile, a separate proposal to improve "intra-corporate" transfers within companies will affect a far smaller pool of workers, but is expected to have significant benefits for the EU economy.

  • Publication of ECRI’s 2009 annual report
The Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has released its annual activity report for 2009, which describes main activities in the course of the year and highlights the main trends with regard to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance across Europe.

 

 

UNITED NATIONS

 

  • UNHCR comments on the European Commission’s proposal for a recast Qualification Directive

The UNHCR has issued comments on the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection and the content of the protection granted. UNHCR welcomes the Commission’s initiative in proposing amendments to the Qualification Directive. The proposal also has the potential further to harmonize protection standards.

  • UN official denounces mistreatment of migrants and urges respect for their rights
Migrants continue to endure multiple forms of discrimination, exploitation and other violations of human rights, a senior United Nations official said, calling for their protection and social inclusion in communities where they live. “Violations of economic, social and cultural rights are daily experiences for countless migrants who are denied, often, access to public health care, adequate housing and essential social security,” said Ivan Šimonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, when he presented a report on the rights of migrants to the UN Economic and Social Council on 22 July. He said that while migration has been beneficial to some of the estimated 214 million people living outside their countries of origin, for many others, it remained a painful experience.
 

 

 

ROMA ISSUES

 

 

 

The French left joined human rights groups and specialised organisations in criticising an anti-delinquency initiative launched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 28 July, which is specifically targeted at the Roma community. Among the measures launched are plans to shut down around 300 illegal camps, expulsion from the country of allRoma from Romania and Bulgaria who have committed public offences, an exchange of policemen between France and Romania, and targeted checks by the fiscal authorities of Roma with expensive SUVs. French human rights groupLigue desDroits de l'Hommeissued astatementstrongly condemning the stigmatisation of Roma people.

  • New wave of evictions threatens Gypsies in the UK

Human rights campaigners have condemned a wave of evictions and court actions against Gypsies and Irish Travellers which they say are threatening to extinguish a whole way of life. Dozens of families face the prospect of being pushed off plots of land they own and forced to move back into illegal "side-of-the road" and wasteland camping. Eric Pickles, the communities and local government minister, is drafting new laws to allow police more powers to evict and arrest people for trespass on public land. Planning laws are also being changed to stop applications for retrospective permission to put caravans on private land. Pickles has already announced the reversal of previous efforts to provide "pitches" within all local authorities, abolishing the regional planning bodies which were to oversee provision of registered sites for travellers and ease the tensions caused by Gypsies being forced to camp illegally.

  • Mass arrest and deportation of Romani EU citizens in Copenhagen condemned

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and Romano sent a letter to Danish authorities on 12 July expressing concern regarding the recent mass arrest and deportation of 23 EU citizens of Romani origin in Copenhagen. Danish media reported on 6 July 2010 that 23 EU Roma were arrested following anti-Roma statements by Mayor Jensen, who called on the Danish government to adopt measures to rid Copenhagen of criminal Roma, blaming them for thefts and asking the police to expel them. The Mayor’s statements caused Minister of Justice Barfoed to react, condemning the Roma in question to be illegal residents and pledging strong police action against them. Despite the apparent absence of an investigation or conviction for the alleged thefts, Danish authorities are reported to have expelled the detained EU Roma. 

  • OSCE human rights office gathers youth activists to commemorate Roma victims of genocide
Some 80 Roma and non-Roma youth activists from several European countries gathered in Oswiecim, Poland on 2 August for an event organised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the International Roma Youth Network (ternYpe) and the Malopolska regional authorities to commemorate the victims of the "Zigeunerlager", or "Gypsy Camp", at the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.Some 23,000 Roma and Sinti were imprisoned in the "Zigeunerlager" in Auschwitz, and nearly all were killed. The last group of 2,897 elderly people, women and children were exterminated on 2 August 1944.
 
 
  • OECD publishes its International Migration Outlook 2010

The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently published its 2010 International Migration Outlook, which analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries. The report highlights the fact that international migration has fallen during the economic crisis but notes that migration will be the key to long-term economic growth: migrants will be needed to fill labour and skill shortages.

  • New thematic report on balancing equality and fundamental rights

The French version of the new thematic report from the European Network of Legal Experts, entitled "Towards a balance between right to equality and fundamental rights" is now available. This report is published by the European Commission and describes the conflicts between fundamental rights and the right to equal treatment as prescribed by the Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive. The report provides some tools and guidelines to lawmakers and national judges to better address conflictsbetween the principle of non-discrimination and fundamental rights. In particular, it focuses on inter-rights conflicts (e.g. equality v. freedom of thought, conscience and religion) and intra-right conflicts (e.g. equality v. equality). The English and German versions will be available soon.

  • CEPS publication: Fundamental rights and EU citizenship after the Treaty of Lisbon
This paper by the Centre for European Policy Studies outlines the key changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty for citizens of the Union. Among the most important is access to EU fundamental rights through the legal effect that has been given through the Lisbon Treaty to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
 

 

  • UNITED conference: 'What Can You(th) Do? Networking for Intercultural Dialogue'

UNITED is holding a conference entitled 'What Can You(th) Do? Networking for Intercultural Dialogue' from 21 to 26 November 2010 near Moscow in Russia. The Conference will bring together around 80 participants from Russia and other European countries, and will provide a forum and working environment to promote the formation of civil society, active youth participation and a positive attitude towards cultural differences in Russia. Building the capacity of youth organisations and bridging European and Russian human rights activists will be at the heart of this forthcoming Conference. The deadline for nominations is 30 September 2010.

  • Seminar on EU Funding for Migration and Asylum: New Call for Proposals and Best Practices

The European Institute for Public Administration (EIPA) is organising a seminar entitled ‘EU Funding for Migration and Asylum: New Call for Proposals and Best Practices’ on 23-24 September in Brussels. Using a bottom-up approach, the purpose of the seminar is twofold: to discuss with the Member States the type of guidance required from the Commission so as to succeed in receiving EU funding for migration and asylum as well as to effectively and efficiently apply the relevant legal bases on implementation, monitoring and evaluation; and to identify good practices and best funded projects. 

  • Annual course on international labour migration
The international training centre of the ILO, together with the ILO’s Programme on international migration and FIERI (Forum Internazionale ed Europeo di Ricerche sull’Immigrazione), is organizing its annual course on international labour migration from 4 to 15 October 2010 in Turin (Italy). The main aim of the training course is to reinforce the main stakeholders’ knowledge on migration issues (governments, social partners, civil society) in order to assess opportunities and challenges in the field of international labour migration, both at the national and regional levels. The deadline for applications is 27 August 2010.
 
 
  • FRA vacancy for a Programme Manager

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has a vacancy notice for a Programme Manager in Research on social science. The deadline for applications is 16 August 2010.

  • The ERRC seeks a Researcher

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is currently recruiting a researcher.The Researcher will be responsible for the development and implementation of research and advocacy work in relation to ERRC strategic priorities, by providing human rights research knowledge and know-how, strong analysis and effective communication skills. The deadline for applications is 16 August 2010.

  • CCLJ is recruiting a coordinator

The ‘Cellule Formation Jeunesse du Centre Communautaire Laïc Juif’ (CCLJ), based in Brussels, is recruiting a full-time socio-cultural coordinator with a university degree. The deadline for applications is 30 August 2010.

  • ODIHR Vacancy for an Officer on Roma and Sinti Issues

The Contact Point for Roma and Sinti at the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), based in Warsaw, Poland, is recruiting an Officer on Roma and Sinti Issues. The post is advertised to seek a replacement of a staff member during maternity leave from 1 October 2010to 28 February 2011. The incumbent will be tasked with helping to identify emerging trends and challenges regarding the situation and development in Roma and Sinti communities and implementation of the "2003 OSCE Action Plan on improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area" by analyzing and reporting on the situation in OSCE regions. The deadline for applications is 15 August 2010.

 

 

 

 

History has shown us that culture is one of the most poignant and powerful ways in which slaves and their descendents have overcome the cruel legacy of slavery,” Mr. Akasaka said, highlighting this year's theme, “Expressing Our Freedom through Culture.”He added, “as importantly, the power and energy of these ideas, words and music from Africa to the New World not only survived, but influenced and enriched the cultures of all societies in which the victims of slavery and their descendents live.”In addition to sharing in the films and listening to speakers, who included educator and filmmaker Sheila Walker, students sent questions and comments remotely.What can the average 'world citizen' do to get rid of racism?” a 13-year-old student from the United States asked.The offspring of the enslaved Africans in the USA, are they discriminated against?” asked a secondary school student from Gambia, while one student from Bermuda simply wrote, “GREAT PROGRAMME, THANKS!!!”The event was organized in collaboration by DPI, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the State Department of the United States and US-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs).The General Assembly designated the Transatlantic Slavery Day in 2007 to honour the 28 million estimated Africans who were violently removed and cast into slavery, mainly in colonies in North America, South America and the West Indies.Throughout the week, the UN honoured the Day with speakers, music recitals, films and a food fair.In a message marking the occasion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that slavery has mutated and re-emerged in modern forms – including debt bondage, the sale of children, and the trafficking of women and girls for sex – and called for its eradication.

 

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PRESS RELEASE

 

Brussels, 22 September 2011

 

Danish elections: Game over for Danish People’s Party

 

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) welcomes the results of the elections in Denmark on 15 September, putting an end to the harmful influence of the far right Danish People’s Party in the previous centre-right coalition government.

The terrorist attacks in Norway by far-right extremist Anders Breivik, although tragic, served as a wake-up call to many Danish voters ahead of elections. Many decided they no longer wanted to support anti-immigrant, xenophobic and populist parties.

This may prove to be a positive shift in a disturbing trend in recent decades, whereby far-right ideologies and discourses have been allowed to thrive, and have permeated into mainstream political debates and parties. This has been the case in Denmark in particular. We now hope that these elections will mark the end of a decade defined by tough policies on immigration and harsh rhetoric on Muslims and ethnic minorities in Denmark.

ENAR Chair Chibo Onyeji said: "The Norway massacres have shown to the world the destructive impact of the dehumanising discourse of the far-right. Now is the opportunity to stamp out far right ideologies and parties and movements endorsing them. We hope the Danish elections will mark the return of the Scandinavian model of tolerance and solidarity in Denmark and elsewhere."

Bashy Quraishy, National Coordinator for ENAR Denmark and Chair of ENAR’s Advisory Council, said: "15