Publications
Weekly Mail n° 316
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- Open letter to European Commission President Barroso on Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn
ENAR sent an open letter to President Barroso in response to his statement at a press conference on 8 May that "we have to define what a neo-Nazi party is and look at national legislation on the issue”, when asked about the high vote percentage gathered by Greece's far-right party Golden Dawn/Chrysi Avgi. In the letter we provide a number of elements showing the Golden Dawn party is undoubtedly on the far right of the political spectrum and in blatant violation of fundamental rights and therefore needs to be forcefully condemned as violating the values and fundamental rights enshrined in the European Union Treaties. However, beyond these violations, the real issue at stake is the context in which such a party moved from being a marginal far right group to garnering 7% of the votes in the Greek elections last Sunday. Indeed, the economic policies put in place by the European Commission and EU Member States and the IMF bear a clear and direct responsibility in the rise of Golden Dawn in Greece and similar far right parties in other European countries. Read more
- ENAR supports the European Quality Charter on Internships and Apprenticeships
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Facing Facts project on hate crimes: fill in the questionnaire
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Letter of complaint Fundación Secretariado Gitano - Die Weltwoche
The Fundación Secretariado Gitano sent last week a letter to the director of the Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche complaining for the article published in its edition of 4th April. The article “Die Roma kommen: Raubzüge in die Schweiz” (“Roma are coming: raids in Switzerland”) is illustrated with the picture of a Roma boy aiming a gun to the camera, and the text makes generalizations identifying Roma with crime. Read more
- ERRC call for submissions - Roma Rights National Strategies on Roma Inclusion: Effectiveness, Impact and Cost
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is looking for original articles and other submissions (book reviews, interview with key figures and conference reports) from a broad range of disciplines addressing the European Union’s Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. Full articles must be submitted to the ERRC by 20 June 2012. The indicative publication date for this journal is December 2012. Read more
- Joint statement on Journalism and the Challenge of Intolerance Conference
Journalists, journalists' unions, media NGOs and anti-racism activists met at a conference hosted by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in Brussels together with the Media Diversity Institute and ARTICLE 19 to debate the media's performance in reporting on ethnicity and religion, and strategies to improve the skills, resources and environment for working journalists reporting on Europe's minorities on 3/4 May 2012. ENAR Director Michaël Privot held a speech on diversity on the media. Read more
- European Disability Forum: The European Parliament sends a strong message on disability to EU Member States
Preventing and eliminating barriers to accessibility for persons with disabilities should be a condition to fulfil in order to receive European money. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be at the core of the European Funds allocated to Members States and the European regions. It is crucial the funds are effective and ensure implementation of the UN treaty. During a workshop organised on 8 May by EDF and MEP Danuta Hübner (EPP, Poland), the European Parliament sent a strong message to the Members States: the removal of crucial conditionalities is not acceptable: the future Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 will have to include persons with disabilities. Read more- "I'm Not Racist, But..." - promoting racial equality in Malta
"I'm Not Racist, But..." is a new project by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) aimed at combating racial discrimination, empowering minorities in Malta and raising awareness on racial discrimination and promoting cultural diversity. It takes its name from the a phrase often repeated by people who do not openly declare that they are racist, but then go on to prove it through their words and their actions. Read more
- Germany to young Muslims “Berlin needs you!”
“Islam is not a part of Germany” read a headline in the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung before the start of a high-profile conference on Islam sponsored by Germany’s Ministry of the Interior. Headlines like these show how controversial political discourse on Muslim integration is in Germany. But these do not represent the whole reality of Muslim integration in the country. There are many examples of initiatives on both local and regional levels that are successfully addressing integration in Germany – especially when it comes to young people. One of these initiatives is “Berlin needs you!”, a campaign borne out of the need to support immigrant youth, including 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants, in Berlin. The majority of participants come from Muslim backgrounds, and the programme helps them navigate the German vocational training system and find careers in the public sector. Read more
Activists in Berlin held a demonstration last weekend to call for measures to address the rise of racism in Europe. The demonstration was called by all the major opposition parties and several unions and human rights organizations. "There's still racism embedded in broad parts of German society, embedded in everyday life, discrimination in the work place, in the labour market, discrimination in official politics, too,” said organizer Sebastian Gerhardt of the House of Democracy and Human Rights. Read more
- EU chief on election of 'neo-Nazi party' to Greek parliament
The European Commission will be particularly "vigilant" following the election of a "neo-Nazi party" to the Greek Parliament and utilize all mechanisms available against all those who violate human rights, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said this week. When asked about the high vote percentage gathered by Greece's extreme-rightwing party Golden Dawn / Chryssi Avgi, Barroso told journalists that "we have to define what a neo-Nazi party is" and look at national legislation on the issue. Read more
- Migrants baffled by clubs’ closed doors
Most immigrants try to integrate into Maltese society through work but discrimination still hounds other facets of their lives. A black migrant who is repeatedly barred from setting foot in Paceville nightclubs left a racism conference still unclear what Maltese law states on discrimination. Maltese law is in fact very clear on the matter. Chapter 456 of the Laws of Malta and Legal Notice 85 (2007) advocates the implementation of the principle of equal treatment of people irrespective of their race or ethnic origins. Read more- Number of public extremist events on the rise
The number of publicly held extremist events rose to 334 in the Czech Republic in 2011, compared with 200 in 2010, according to a report by the Interior Ministry that the government discussed yesterday. In 2011, 123 events were organised by rightist extremists compared with 80 in 2010 and 211 by leftist extremists against 120 in 2010. The report says the extremists are more and more radical. The number of crimes committed has not increased year-on-year, but the number of violent crime with an extremist subtext increased. Read more
Racism complaints against British police officers have more than doubled in the past decade, despite efforts to improve relations with ethnic minorities in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence scandal. But the vast majority of the complaints submitted by alleged victims of racial abuse have been rejected, because the police themselves have ruled either that they are untrue, or that they cannot be substantiated. Only a handful of officers have faced reprimands, including official warnings, for their behaviour – and fewer still have been dismissed. Read more
Recently, the Court of Justice of the European Union has delivered two significant judgments concerning non-EU nationals who are long term residents in the EU. In a case concerning housing benefits of an Albanian national living in Italy, the Court has stated that EU law precludes a national or regional law which provides for different treatment for non-EU nationals and nationals of the EU State in which they reside, in so far as the housing benefit falls within the fields covered by the principle of equal treatment provided for under the Directive concerning long-term residents and constitutes a core benefit. Read more
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that evicting Roma from an established community outside of Sofia, Bulgaria, would violate the right to life. The Strasbourg-based rights court issued the ruling last week in favour of 23 Bulgarian nationals living in a settlement with about 250 other Roma. The Roma had settled in Batalova Vodenitsa, on the outskirts of Bulgaria's capital Sofia, in the 1960s and 70s. The 1990s saw growing hostility against Roma in Sofia, including some politicians calling for the emptying of "Roma ghettos." Read more
- Bosnia asked to end discrimination of Roma and Jews
The head of the Council of Europe asked Bosnia on Monday to propose amendments to its constitution within a month to end the discrimination of its Jewish and Roma minority. "We want to see a clear, concrete and formal proposal submitted to the Bosnian parliament" before the June 4 meeting of the Council of Europe's ministerial comittee, Thorbjorn Jaglaand told reporters during his visit to Sarajevo. He said the draft must be "submitted in advance to Strasbourg to secure that this is a proposal that is in compliance with the judgement" of the European Court of Human Rights. Read more
- European Institutions Open Day 2012
The European Parliament will mark this year's anniversary of the Schumann Declaration by opening its doors to citizens and offering them many activities that provide behind-the-scenes insights into Parliament's activities. On Saturday 12 May,the European Parliament will join other EU institutions in Brussels in opening its doors from 10.00 to 18.00. It will offer many activities, including meeting political groups and European Parliament departments andto following and taking part in debates with Members of the European Parliament in the plenary chamber. Read more
Somali asylum-seekers who landed their boat on one of Malta's most popular beaches at the weekend have told UNHCR that seven fellow passengers died during their week-long voyage from Libya. The boat came ashore at Riviera Bay on Saturday and the emergency services were alerted to the arrival of the 90 exhausted Somalis by people enjoying an evening on the beach. This is the fourth such boat to have arrived in Malta this year, bringing a cumulative total of more than 210 people. Read more
- UN expert launches study to assess migrants’ rights in European border region
A United Nations expert will kick off on Monday a one-year study to assess the impact that migration policies in the Euro-Mediterranean region have on the human rights of migrants, focusing on the management of the European Union’s external borders. The year-long study, which will begin with a three-day trip to Brussels, will examine the EU directives as well as national policies in place with respect to visa regimes and border control. Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. Read more
- UN rights expert to assess impact of EU/IMF stabilisation programme in Latvia
- Launch of Immigrant Citizens Survey
The Immigrant Citizens Survey, investigating how immigrants experience integration in 15 European cities was launched today in Brussels. With the King Baudouin Foundation and partners, Migration Policy Group set out to test whether integration policies matched the hopes and needs of immigrants across Europe. Carried out in 15 different cities in 7 different countries, the ICS points to areas where immigrant voices and perspectives have been missing from the debate about integration policy.Read more
- Report: “Access to health care for vulnerable groups in the European Union in 2012”
This report by Médecins du Monde presents main findings drawn from data collected daily in 2011 in its health centres in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Munich, and Nice and presents key concerns: lack of access to antenatal care, to vaccinations, and to primary healthcare, all of which are backed by patient interviews compiled in the 11 EU countries where we work. The consequences of the economic crisis on health and health-related issues are visible in the EU. In Greece access to hospitals is limited to the persons able to pay up-front hospital fee 3 for each medical procedure. More than ever, the European Union needs to ensure full health coverage to people who are already confronted with numerous vulnerability factors. The implementation of exclusion measures that target undocumented migrants, the Roma, drug users, the homeless, and sex workers has increased the likelihood that their health will deteriorate. Read more
- European Youth Forum organises a 3rdYO! Feston the topic of the European Charter on Internships and Apprenticeships: an Intern Action Day
The YO! Fest takes place on the Esplanade of the European Parliament in Brussels on 16th of May 2012. It's a moment for publicity of the initiative and for officially handing over the Charter with all its signatures to the European Parliament President Martin Schulz and European Commission Director-General for Employment, Koos Richelle. This edition is conceived as a dynamic open space with many different activities linked to and flowing through each other. It includes public debates, open mic sessions, street theatre performance and slam poetry with musical intervals from Belgium and International bands. Read more
- Video screening organised by the intergroup on LGBT Rights
On the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia (17 May), the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights will unveil a unique video message to LGBT young people from MEPs and EU leaders, where they pledge to fight homophobia and transphobia. Those interested to participate and need an access badge to enter the European Parliament are invited to register by Friday 11th May. Date: 16 May 2012, Brussels. Read more
- Conference: Working together for Roma inclusion in the school and community
This conference will take place on 25th May 2012 at Corvinus University Budapest, in Hungary. It will include workshops on: The EU Roma Framework and Education; Roma Inclusion: Examples of good practice in UK and Hungarian schools; Roma Community: The importance of assertive outreach and improving the relationship between schools and the community; Setting up links with UK and Hungarian schools; Roma Resources: How to embed Roma culture into the mainstream curriculum; Romedia Foundation: Examples and ideas for media projects which challenge negative stereotypes. Read more
- 7th European Integration Forum on family reunification
The European Integration Forum – the dialogue platform on integration of immigrants – will meet for the seventh time on 31 May and 1 June 2012 in Brussels on the theme: the Right to Family Reunification for Third Country Nationals. This issue was the subject of a recent public consultation held by the European Commission. Given the high number of contributions received, it was decided that the Forum would be the most appropriate arena to deepen the discussion with representatives of civil society organisations. The meeting will be opened by Cecilia Malmström, European Commissionner for Home Affairs and a high representative of the Danish government. Several MEPs and representatives of national governments will participate. Read more
- International Romani Art Festival
Bucharest will host the next edition of one of the largest and most complex cultural events in the world from 7 to 10 June. Maintaining standards of excellence that has used the public festival, the 6th edition of IRAF first headliner of the event announced that none other than Lulo Reinhardt, a master of acoustic guitar in a jazz exceptionally project, which are honorable musical heritage of the famous Django Reinhardt, whose descendant is the artist. Read more
- PICUM: “Using Legal Strategies to Enforce Undocumented Migrants Human Rights”
- REF seeks applications for the position of an External Evaluator
Currently, the Roma Education Fund is seeking an external evaluation to provide deeper understanding of the impact, gaps and challenges in funding Roma education. The results of the evaluation will be used to inform donors, board members, and to influence the future strategy of the organization. The deadline for submitting applications is 22 May. Read more
- 2012 Photos Against Racism Competition
FEMYSO is launching a European wide campaign that will involve a photo against racism competition. Young Europeans are encouraged to take a photo or design an illustration/graphic that showcases their ideas and thoughts on eradicating racial discrimination in Europe, and to send out a message of Hope and Tolerance. All photos and illustrations/graphics have to be sent by 17 June. Read more© ENAR aisbl, 60 Rue Gallait, 3rd floor, B-1030 Brussels
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