Publications

Weekly Mail 299

 
6 January 2012

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  • ENAR welcomes conviction for Stephen Lawrence murder in the UK

We welcomed the conviction this week of two men for the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the sentences they were given. This long overdue conviction, after 18 years of fighting for justice, finally acknowledges the racist nature of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. This case was a turning point in highlighting the institutional racism within the British criminal justice system and its inability to deal with racist crime. Although it led to significant improvements to race discrimination laws in the United Kingdom, we must not be complacent. It is essential that the current UK government upholds equality policies and laws and continues to prevent racist violence and crime. Read more

  • Fill in the ERPC survey on the National Roma Integration Strategies
Under the new European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies, EU Member States have to submit strategies on Roma inclusion to the European Commission (EC) by the end of December 2011. The strategies will be evaluated by the EC who will publish a report by April 2012. In its assessment, the EC will take into account contributions from civil society. In this context, the European Roma Policy Coalition (ERPC) is gathering the views of Roma organisations and civil society on the processes that led to the design of the NRIS in the different Member States. In particular, the ERPC would like to undertake a survey to assess whether the consultation of civil society and Roma organizations was appropriate and whether anti-discrimination issues are taken seriously in the NRIS. We would like to invite all Roma organizations and civil society organisations to participate in our survey by 18 January 2012. Read more
 
 

  • Seven organisations launch "Social Services Europe"

A new European network, Social Services Europe, was launched by 7 organisations (SOLIDAR, Eurodiaconia, EPR, Workability EU, FEANTSA, EASPD, CEDAG) to strengthen the profile and position of social services, and to promote the role of not-for-profit social service providers throughout Europe. Read more

  • EAPN's MAG on Quality of Work for Quality of Life is out
The contribution of employment to the fight against poverty – This latest edition of the European Anti-Poverty Network’s magazine brings together EAPN members experts on employment issues. The struggle to ensure that those who can access work have quality employment has always been an essential component for EAPN’s work. Read more

PROGRESSIVE STORIES ON DIVERSITY

  • Bid to encourage coverage of migrants’ stories in Malta

Maltese media will get a bit more colourful, thanks to an EU-funded project which seeks to encourage coverage of non-EU foreigners living in Malta. Coordinated by SOS Malta, the Media InterAct project has been designed to mainstream the integration of third country nationals and offer the general public an accurate picture of what it is like to live in Malta as a foreigner. A 13-episode lifestyle and cooking TV programme called Minn Lenti Interkulturali will be aired on TVM and E22 between January and March. The show will blend cookery with third country nationals’ accounts of their integration into Maltese society. The project will also lead to the creation of a pilot magazine which will riff off “integration” as a key theme. In an attempt at encouraging journalists to report on integration, a new journalism award is being introduced as part of the Malta Journalism Awards. Read more 

Two men found guilty of the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in south-east London have been jailed for life. Gary Dobson will serve a minimum of 15 years and two months, and David Norris 14 years and three months. Dobson, 36, and Norris, 35, were the first people convicted over the fatal attack on Mr Lawrence by a group of white youths near a bus stop in Eltham on 22 April 1993. In passing sentence, Mr Justice Treacy said: "The crime was committed for no other reason than racial hatred." The minimum terms may appear low, but sentencing law in 1993 did not properly account for racially aggravating circumstances. The former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Lord Blair said the case had seen police move from a "colour-blind" approach to policing to one which understood the previous experiences and expectations held by different communities. Read more

  • Italy opens up to Romanian, Bulgarian workers

Crisis-struck Italy is lifting labour market restrictions for Romanians and Bulgarians while nine otherEUcountries are maintaining their curbs, with several citing high unemployment. Rome decided to fully liberalise its labour market for citizens of theEU'stwo newest members as of 1 January. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially informed Romanian and Bulgarian diplomats about its decision on 29 December. This has been widely seen as a positive signal in Bulgaria and Romania, which entered theEUin 2007. Both nations have complained of bias because their nationals were not able to enjoy free access to the Union's labourmarket. Rome’s decision is a “proof” that keeping labour market restrictions is done out of political and not economic reasons, saidMEPMarian-JeanMarinescu(EPP-Romania). Read more

  • Netherlands defends border control project

The Dutch interior ministry has said new cameras for screening people who enter the country by car will not violate EU laws on free movement or privacy. In what looks like a fresh attack on the Schengen passport-free travel agreement, the pilot scheme - entitled "@migo-Boras" - is to see €19 million worth of cameras installed on 15 major highways from Belgium and Germany and in some police cars between February and April. If they spot a number plate which is red-flagged in the police database, officers will intercept the vehicle in a bid to stop irregular immigrants and criminals. Read more

France will be making it harder for foreigners to seek French citizenship as of January. Critics say the new requirements, which include tough language tests and allegiance to “French values”, are an electoral ploy that panders to the far right. Candidates will be tested on French culture and history, and will have to prove their French language skills are equivalent to those of a 15-year-old mother tongue speaker. They will also be required to sign a new charter establishing their rights and responsibilities. In a more obscure passage, the charter suggests that by taking on French citizenship, “applicants will no longer be able to claim allegiance to another country while on French soil”, although dual nationality will still be allowed. Read more

  • Italian rail company lambasted for 'racist' web commercial
Italy's state-owned railway corporation, Trenitalia, decided to replace the traditional first and second classes on its high-speed trains with four categories. And since the occupants of fourth-class will not be allowed to use the on-board cafeteria, or even set foot in carriages reserved for better-off passengers, it was already facing accusations of introducing a form of segregation. However, the company was preparing to defend itself against claims of outright racism. Its problems arose after the release of a web commercial designed to get travellers used to the new reality. The top tier, executive class, was illustrated by businesspeople at work in a special conference room. The next best, business class, was depicted temptingly empty. Premium had a couple taking drinks from a trolley pushed by a uniformed hostess. And standard, the most basic class, was illustrated with a picture of a black family. Attention was first drawn to Trenitalia's video by a blogger, and it soon triggered a torrent of complaints. Read more
 
 

The programme for the Danish presidency was presented in the beginning of January 2012. The four fundamental priorities for the Danish Presidency will be to contribute to:a responsible Europe; a dynamic Europe; a green Europe; a safe Europe. Read more
  • European Year 2012 Opening Conference: "Stay active - what does it take?"
The Opening conference for the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 will take place on 18 and 19 January in Copenhagen, Denmark. The conference will focus on how innovation can bring new solutions to the future challenges of an ageing society in Europe within the fields of employment, health and social affairs. Read more 
 
 
  • Closing of the UN Year for people of African descent

“Millions of people of African descent around the world are still unaware that they have rights they can demand, and that their governments are accountable to them, and to a wide-ranging body of rights-based national and international law. Despite all our work over the last months, this International Year will pass many people of African descent by,” noted UN Human Rights chief, Navi Pillay, in a statement to mark the closing of the International Year for People of African Descent. During a high-level thematic debate, UN Member States, civil society representatives and human rights experts discussed the achievements of the Year. At the meeting, participants urged the development of a UN declaration on the rights of people of African descent and greater efforts to build a memorial for the victims of the slave trades. Read more

  • UNHCR's recommendations to the Danish EU Presidency
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the commitment by Denmark to seek agreement on the outstanding texts of the asylum package for a Common European Asylum System. UNHCR hopes that agreement will be found on the outstanding legislative package on the basis of the important amendments put forward by the Commission in the recast proposals. Safeguards for accelerated procedures, better regulation of detention of asylum-seekers, interview with and information to persons being considered under the Dublin II Regulation are among the main issues of UNHCR concern. Read more
 
 

  • Media adopt controversial "unadaptables" label for Roma in the Czech Republic
One of the words that symbolise 2011 in the Czech Republic is "unadaptable" that has recently been used by Czech media very often, Lucie Kavanova writes in weekly Respekt's latest issue about the term that is now used when speaking of (problematic) Romanies. While Czech press used the term "unadaptable" only twice in 1991, it was about hundred times in 2001 and 800 articles used it in 2011. "Despite the original intention (not to explicitly speak of Romanies) this term started to be clearly identified with the unadaptable Romany ethnicity. But it is not clear whether the speaker says all Romanies are unadaptable or nobody else but Romanies are unadaptable". Read more

“Concrete action to counter anti-Gypsyism and discrimination against Roma must be given priority by the authorities of Slovakia” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, releasing hisreport following a visit to Slovakia carried out from 26 to 27 September 2011, which focuses on the protection of the human rights of Roma and persons with disabilities. Racist and anti-Roma discourse is still common among mainstream politicians in Slovakia, as well as in the broadcasting and print media. “The Slovak authorities should increase their efforts to prevent the spreading of such prejudices, including by promoting self-regulation within political parties and the media and implementing more thoroughly the relevant criminal provisions.” Read more

  • Report by the Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion: Promoting the social inclusion of Roma

The report is based on individual country reports prepared by members of the EU Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion which examine the situation of Roma. It assesses the strengths and weaknesses of existing policies and programmes and then outlines the key elements that should inform National Roma Integration Strategies if they are to be effective. It also contains a series of suggestions for advancing future work at national and EU level on promoting the social inclusion of Roma. Read more

  • New brochure on EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies

This new brochure entitled ‘Working together for Roma inclusion: The EU Framework explained’ explains the EU Framework to regional and local decision makers. The publication presents the key elements of the EU Framework and highlights existing good practices and tools that can provide support and help orientate policymaking at national, regional and local levels. Read more

  • Equinet factsheet on the rights of Roma people
This factsheet was produced by Equinet with its members experienced in work on Roma issues in order to encourage and inform the participation of national equality bodies in the development, implementation and monitoring of the National Roma Integration Strategies in their Member States. Read more
 
 

  • JRS report on how refugees experience Europe’s borders

In its report “Safe and Secure: How do Refugees Experience Europe's Borders?”, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) presents evidence that European governments actively hinder refugee arrivals. “While the ‘Arab Spring’ may have ignited the democratic aspirations of North Africans, it has revealed the deep-seated aversion of EU states to give forced migrants access to asylum procedures in Europe”, says Stefan Kessler, JRS Europe Senior Policy Officer and editor of their new report. JRS calls therefore on EU Member States to swiftly respond to all migrants and refugees in distress at sea and to offer access to asylum procedures to those intercepted. Read more

  • Survey by the German Marshall Fund: Transatlantic Trends on immigration

The German Marshall Fund (GMF) published its annual Transatlantic Trends: Immigration survey, a public opinion survey on immigration and integration conducted across North America and Europe. It shows that in the midst of the global economic crisis and “Arab Spring,” attitudes toward immigration remain stable in the United States and five European countries. Most Americans and Europeans see immigration as a problem yet remain optimistic about immigrant integration. The survey also shows that while most disapprove of government management of immigration, a majority of Americans and Europeans support centralized immigration policies over local ones. Read more

The European Network of Legal Experts in the field of non-discrimination has published a Handbook providing guidance to victims of discrimination. The new handbook "How to present a Discrimination Claim - Handbook on seeking remedies under the EU Non-discrimination Directives" constitutes a unique tool providing simple and basic guidance to victims of discrimination on identifying discrimination situation, checking whether it is lawful or unlawful and then planning (legal) action. Read more
 
 

  • ERIO conference: Remembering the Forgotten Roma Holocaust

The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) is holding the conference “Remembering the Forgotten Roma Holocaust” on 25 of January in Brussels. The objectives of the conference are to: raise awareness about the Roma Holocaust (Porajmos); generate debate and reflection by linking the Roma persecution during Nazism and their ongoing discrimination; demonstrate the impact of the Roma Holocaust on today’s Roma and attitudes of non-Roma. Read more

  • European seminar: “Involving Young Migrants in Winter Sports”

It is very common to hear and see the involvement of minorities and people with migration background in summer sport especially football - albeit accompanying exclusion and discriminatory problems. The story is different when it comes to winter sports. This is the case at hobby, amateur and professional levels. This seminar, to be held on 12 January in Innsbruck, Austria, is the first of its kind in Europe to address the issue of minority involvement in winter sports and the question of the exclusion of traditional immigrant communities, with a focus on the Alpine region and Scandinavia. It will touch on questions of stereotypes and how winter sports can attract and recruit young talents from migrant communities. Read more

  • Diversity training ‘Stop Labelling Yourself’

The training course “Stop Labelling Yourself!” will take place from 23 January to 1 February in Vidrike, Estonia, and will bring together 22 youth workers and youth leaders from 11 European countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, France, Belgium, Romania and Bulgaria). The aim of the training course is to understand and learn stereotypes and prejudices in our everyday lives and to become aware of them and about the discrimination it can lead to. Read more

  • Masters Course in ‘Diversity and the media’
The application process for the Masters course in ‘Diversity and the Media’ 2012-2013 is now open. The highly innovative new course developed by the Media Diversity Institute and the University of Westminster will give students an opportunity to analyse the role of the media in social construction and get a critical understanding of journalistic practices that impact upon these processes. The course is designed to equip students with the skills to engage in responsible media coverage of diversity, to practice culturally informed and inclusive journalism and to develop a career (whether practical, strategic, or research-based) involving understanding and responding to the challenges of social diversity. Read more
 
 
  • Award for research on integration of young people marginalised by early school leaving and unemployment
The Foundation P&V combats the marginalisation of young people. Numerous researchers in Belgium and abroad have concluded that the lack of skills and employment qualifications are significant sources of marginalisation and a cause of future social exclusion. Accordingly, the Foundation P&V has launched a far-reaching multi-year Research/Action programme, to be implemented from 2012 to 2014 and covering various stages: The sharing of scientific knowledge and ideas on causes and possible solutions; an increase in this knowledge based on expert opinions and experience, plus the identification of policies and projects able to contribute effectively to resolving the problems to be identified; the promotion of these policies and sharing of the initiatives and projects thus determined. The call for scientific contributions will select the 12 best articles, which will be published and awarded a prize of 1,500 euros each. Read more
 
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