Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London
I'm very pleased, as this year's anti-racism rapporteur for the European Parliament and a vice-chair of its cross-party anti-racism intergroup, to have taken part in the conference as a co-discussant in the education and awareness-raising workshop.
In that capacity I was able successfully to support, in the drafting group, some of the key NGO and workshop amendments to the general conclusions eg on language such as changing 'tolerance' to 'respect' and vulnerable groups' to 'targeted groups' in the text, in getting more references to the importance of fair and non-infammatory policies on immigration and asylum, and in urging States to include women and youth representatives in their delegations to the world conference.
I thought that there was in fact an excellent NGO input (and rather more ethnically representative than the political/official delegations!). But also one must give credit to the States and to the Austrian, then Italian, chairman - with the assistance of an able Council of Europe Secretariat - for their efforts at compromise, within the constraints of an intergovernmental consensus exercise.
One thought though: there needs to be further effort at developing the language in which we discuss racism in Europe. There are many differences of culture and experience, and what I am in contact with in London is not the same as in say, Latvia. We could do with studying the Canadian experience more as well as the US; in many ways Canada is a better model of immigration policy and interculturalism.
Sarah Ludford MEP (sludford@europarl.eu.int)
Migrants and Refugee protection issues sidelined at official Conference
The NGO Forum did a good job of recognizing the
urgency surrounding the plight of refugees and abuses
against migrants resulting from a host of racist and
xenophobic governmental policies and practices in
Europe. However, the intergovernmental conference
appears to be dodging this critical issue. The absence
of a specific working group on migration and refugee
protection at the official conference sidelines the
migration and refugee protection problems in Europe.
It is difficult to imagine that this is anything but a
deiberate move on the part of governments to avoid
discussing these issues with refugee and migrants
rights advocates in a meaningful way that would lead
to greater protection for these groups. Our experience
from attending two working groups is that the
migration and refugee protection issues are not
getting full (or even half full) treatment here
despite acts of hideous xenophobic violence committed
against them on nearly a daily basis in Europe. If
these issues cannot be discussed at an official
governmental conference on racism and xenophobia in
Europe then where can they be discussed? It appears
that Fortress Europe is alive and well...
Future action on migrants rights and refugee
protection issues must, first and foremost, be based
on human rights principles. Governments have
affirmative obligations under the 1951 Refugee
Convention and under various international and
regional treaties to promote and protect the rights of
both groups. This places respect for refugees and
migrants in a framework that recognizes their basic
human dignity and avoids the more popular but
exploitive approach of arguing that governments should
afford them protection because they need their labor
in low-wage, low status jobs that most nationals would
not accept.
Julia Hall, Counsel
Europe and Central Asia Division
Human Rights Watch
New York and Belgium
Statement of Eastern and Central European NGOs
On behalf of NGOs from several Eastern and Central European countries I draw attention of participants of the European Conference to a very important problem that has never been seriously discussed at international level and may well detonate back in the foreseeable future with appalling consequences. I mention it because the problem was almost not covered at the NGO Forum.
It is a problem of specific racism that thrives in many East European countries and has already contributed to increase in manifestations of racism in Western Europe. This racism has resulted not only from colonial experience but also from inborn xenophobic sentiments cultivated there for centuries. In the last decade, it has caused mass killings in many parts of former Yugoslavia, and numerous armed conflicts and substational loss of life on the territories of former USSR. It has been steadily gaining ground in Russia in recent years. The state demonstrates criminal indifference to these dangerous developments.
If neglected, this variety of racism may well lead to new ethnic conflicts in other parts of Europe. To our regret, both the NGO Forum and the European Conference against Racism chose to refrain from discussing this problem. We are convinced that it deserves concentrated attention of the international community, that history of this phenomenon should be included on par with colonialism and slave trade, into related educational programmes worked out for the future.
Boris Pustintsev
Citizen Watch, St. Petersburg
Russia
Yuri DZHIBLADZE
Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Moscow
Russia
David Beritashvili
Centre of Interethnic Co-operation, Moscow
Russia
Alexander Ossipov
The 'Memorial' Human Rights Center, Moscow
Russia
Natalia Taubina
Foundation for Civil Society, Moscow
Russia
Leonid Lvov
Harold & Selma Light Center for Human Rights Advocacy, St. Petersburg
Russia
Fuad Pepinov
International Society of Meskhetian Turks
Russia
Nikolai Girenko
Saint-Petersburg association of scientists and scholars
Russia
M. Aliou Tounkara
Union Africaine, St. Petersburg
Russia
Miroslav Prokes
UNITED for International Action/DUHA, Prague
Czech Republic
Eldar Zeynalov
The Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan, Baku
Azerbaijan
Anca Sirbu
ASLIR
Romania
Rafal Pankowski
Never Again Association
Poland
Natalia Sineaeva
Helsinki Citizen's Assembly of Moldova
Moldova
Efim Tcaci
Anti-fascist Democratic Alliance of Moldova
Moldova
Irina Pivovarova
Youth Helsinki Citizens' Assembly of Moldova
Moldova
Declaration of the CENTRE FOR THE INTERETHNIC CO-OPERATION (Moscow, Russia) The Centre for the Interethnic Co-Operation has already been working with Russian NGOs fighting for the needs of different national minorities for already 3 years and carried out an opinion poll among the leaders of 49 national organizations from different parts of Russia just before arrival to Strasbourg.
First, in the situation of unfavorable economic conditions and high criminal rate politicians as well as the criminal sector in a multinational country are tempted to switch the due discontent with their activities to the defenseless population groups.
Secondly, the more and more migrants escaping from military conflicts and looking for more acceptable economic conditions move to Russia. If we take into account that many modern states have been created and developed on the basis of the ethnic "nation-the state" principle we will see that the inhabitants start having fear to lose their national and state identity, if they are dissipated in the ethnically "alien" elements.
Abnormal life conditions in the South Caucasian and Central Asian States force the people to leave their motherland and move to Russia. As Russia itself experiences hard times, the interethnic tension grows in it and many politicians as well as the mass media publicize themselves by playing up to the xenophobic social feelings.
Many other examples show us that the increase of democratic tendencies in the society leads to the improvement of the economic conditions together with the tolerance to the national minorities and to the political stability in the region. On the other hand the opinion poll showed that most NGO leaders, especially the ones from the regions, think that the existing interethnic intolerance is "a serious obstacle to success of the democratic reforms in Russia."
Answering the question "Who do you think is the most responsible for building up intolerance towards other nationalities?" most respondents named the Mass Media, then Government representatives and only the third place was occupied by fascist organizations.
Most leaders asked, especially from the regions, are sure that "it is indispensable to change profoundly the legislative base to fight xenophobia more effectively". Some do not agree with this point, think that first it is important to make people abide by the existing laws. Some leaders said that laws in Russia are very distant from the real life; that's why the official power will always get what it needs without any laws, so it is no use adopting new laws: they will remain a sheet of paper.
Most interethnic organization' leaders think that "it is important to establish closes links with the European organizations working with xenophobia and racism". However, there are very few interethnic organizations of Russia have contacts with the European and World organizations working with minority rights protection.
As to the Western States policy to promote democratic tendencies in Russia, we need to state that the western money does not actually influence the creation of Russian democratic society. The amount of money received through the government keep on increasing, but together with it, the interethnic intolerance and national discrimination grow as well as the "anti-Western" feelings.
Maybe the West should provide support not only through the government structures but also more through the non-governmental sector, which is really interested in the democratization of this country and is ready to prove it by actions rather than by words?
Information Office of the Council of Europe, Bratislava / Viliam Figusch
Subject: Cohesion
In relation to people with low social status e.g.
(segregated part of Roma population in some countries) society has to recognize a need to provide genuine opportunity for them on local and regional level, by shaping policies which take into account their existence and make them possible participation in social life.
Bob Purkiss, Vice Chair E.U.M.C
My Mother is white English.My Father was a black American. I was born and educated in England.I joined the navy when I was 15 in 1961 and went to South Africa. There were signs on the seats and buses and toilets, which said. EUROPEAN and NON_EUROPEAN. I thought I was a European because of where I came from. The Police told me that European meant WHITE and Non- European meant BLACK. There are many people in Europe that still think the same!!! I hope that, not only can we remove the signs, we remove the attitude as well, before we go back to South Africa.
Was the NGO Forum racist against Blacks?
Is this another form of racism? Or a lack of political courage? Or both?
Despite a petition which got 24 signatures from diverse representatives of NGO's (1) within thirty minutes at the conclusion of the final plenary, those who controlled the Forum's work maintained their positions. They ignored the often repeated appeals from several black representatives in the working groups. They kept silent on the following points proposed for inclusion in the recommendations to be addressed to European governments :
We urge the European Conference to explicitly recognise European colonialism and black slavery (which must be considered as a double Black Holocaust) as crimes against humanity and to present public and sincere apologies to the victims and their descendents at the World Conference against Racism in South Africa.
Lessons must be drawn from the experiences of the Jewish Holocaust and the Black Holocausts, for which no European country can disclaim responsability. Indifference to and denial of those Holocausts promote racist attitudes and prejudices.
We urge all Member States of the Council of Europe/European Union to make the offence of Jewish Holocaust and of Black Holocausts denial, negationism or revisionism punishable by law.
We urge all Member states to promote appropriate forms of Jewish and Black Holocausts remembrance, including annual Days.
All these points are somehow included in the final Revised Draft Report, but excluding the explicit mention of the Blacks' concerns.
In addition, the consequences of these historical tragedies on today's international economic and political power structures have not been taken up either.
"End Racism now", is the slogan of the Forum. So let's start with fighting racism against anti-racism in favor of Blacks. Because the anti-black racism needs an absolute and urgent recognition of the Black Holocausts with all their aspects.
Mutombo Kanyana
(Regards Africains/Forum suisse contre le racisme)
(1) Solidarite sans frontieres/CH, Projet Paix Shalom/D, Forum suisse contre le racisme, Regards Africains/CH, Black Action Group/GB, Swiss Peace Council, National Traveller/Ireland, MIRA/N, AFOA/CH,Diaspora Africaine/F, Coordination Sans Papiers/F, African Refugee Network/Ireland,Mahon CDP/Ireland, Pro-Job/NL, Altern.Strategies Fondation/NL, Sudanese Diaspora/GB, RVDAGE/VI/B, CWU.Trade Union/GB, Higher Education Equality Unit/Ireland,...
Petadists Community Organisation , Chinedu Ene
Subject: South Africa, after this Forum, what next? After this meeting of the NGOs, how do we get together again for proper preparation of South Africa Conference. That is where our resolves will be put to test. I suggest that regional NGOs convene a meeting to follow through and communicate their decisions to other regional NGOs outside their zone. Most NGOs borrowed money to finance their coming to this seminar. How do we ensure that the gouvernements of the european states will fund NGOs that are seeking a better world for all, where peace and prosperity is the norm.
WorldY/ Linda Olson
Migrant and Refugee Women
Europe must realize the plight of refugee and migrant women and make changes in governmental systems that subject them to dependence on their husbands for Stay Permits and then provide little or no support when they lose legal status and become vunerable to exploitation
Bucharest Youth Foundation
Hello everybody from Romania!
All Rumanian young people hope that their voices will be heard from this part of Europe where the CHANGES has borned in their souls a lots of hopes in a better life in a better Europe.
New people for a new era!
Amare Phrala - Our Brothers
The case/trial of Hadareni (a village in Romania, Mures county) was not solved since 1994 (Roma died there and houses were burned).
All the legal ways/procedure were accomplished but there is nobody in the prison for murder and the case it is now at the Strasbourg Court.
It is said that in Romania there is no racism but this example proves that exist even institutional racism unfortunately.
Asociatia Studenteasca de Lupta Impotriva Rasismului (students' ass. for struggle against racism)
This european conference seems to be very important for the coming UN Conference Against Racism.
As not being able to participate directly to it, we would like to know which are the chances for the NGOs there to be "the voice" of all the other NGOs left 'at home'. And are there going to be any real and concrete results of this conference?
We hope that we will soon see things changing (in the good way!)
Antifanet, Belgium
Dear friends,
We are still knocked down by the electoral success of the Flemish racist party vlaams blok
(Flemish Block) last week-end. 33% of the votes in the city of Antwerp, almost 20% in the city
of Ghent and a break-thru in whole Flanders... We still fight racism! But what makes me worry
most is the complete sillence in the rest of Europe. Do we realy have to wait till they
take over power as in Austria before Europe and European NGO's take action?
The problem is that big that we can't handle it anymore localy... Webmaster@antifa.net http://www.antifa.net
Hemiksem near Antwerp/Belgium
Ps: Sorry for my bad English.
KIDDO (Dutch Journal of Childcare)
Against prejudices
Type your comment here :
Recent experiences of childcare in Belgium and the Netherlands shows that prejudices in a neighbourhood can very well diminish if the parents and grandparents on a regular base are invited to participate in collective activities of the preschool care. (info@kiddo.net)
Association of Romas "Cerenja"-Stip, R.Macedonia:
We would like to send a message to whole world.
Roma people take a special place in the society as a minority that are not asking for territory and country. There fore, they are not less exposed to diskrimination and xenophobia.For a long time too much people have treated Romas as not important persons.
But the thruth is that We are a people too, and We have the same rights as other humans been.There fore We asking a participation of Roma people into society life and respected the human rights of Romas.
Migranten Medien Zentrum- Pantea Bahrami, Germany
I think for Struggel aganist Rasicm, we need except anit-Low and Independent organisation, a very hard work in the cultural Field in the European countries. It means, we have to open the doors for Migrants and Refuges in the mass-media.
You can contact with me unter this adress for more ecplantation íf you want
E-Mail: anahitaa@freenet.de
See your comments!
