Brussels, 10 October 2022
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Structural racism and discrimination against racialized groups persist in the EU
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Legal framework needs to evolve in a comprehensive manner to address range of issues
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EU institutions should lead by example through enhanced representation and appropriate internal strategies
Parliament’s draft report sets out ways to address persistent problems, and calls on the EU institutions to lead by example.
The draft report strongly condemns that minorities and migrants, including LGBTQI persons, face structural racism, discrimination, hate, inequalities, difficulties in accessing the justice system, and violence by the police. It also regrets that 14 years from the adoption of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, several EU countries have not yet properly implemented it, and calls for the criminalisation of racist hate crime and hate speech.
Representation and diversity are key tools for the development of inclusive societies, MEPs say, condemning the racist rhetoric of certain media, which stigmatise racialized communities. They are alarmed by how conspiracy theories, such as the so-called “Great Replacement Theory”, are mainstreamed into the political speech extreme right political.
The text that was approved on Monday by the Committee on Civil Liberties with 48 votes in favour, 6 against, and 3 abstentions, calls, among other points:
- for the adoption of the Anti-Discrimination Directive, which has been blocked since 2008;
- for the proper implementation of the Racial Equality and Employment Equality Directives;
- for an extension of the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crimes;
- for a Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, for a ban on gender-based violence under EU law, and for the criminalisation of forced sterilisation and abortion across all EU countries; and
- for the adoption of appropriate internal strategies by the EU institutions, such as the EP diversity strategy and its roadmap for 2022-2024.
MEPs acknowledge that AI could help reduce the impact of human biases, but they remain concerned by the risks of reinforcing existing discrimination if appropriate safeguards are not in place. They demand an end to profiling, and recall that EU law dictates that any practice that results in discrimination on the basis of sensitive personal data (such as race and religion) is prohibited.
The text also addresses issues for specific groups:
- structural racism against racialized children (that could be tackled through the full use of the child guarantee), and the cycle of poverty;
- Roma equality, inclusion and participation, and the lack of recognition of antigypsyism as a specific form of racism;
- the decreasing Jewish population in Europe and that 38% of European Jews are considering leaving Europe due to concern for their safety;
- female genital mutilation, marital captivity and “honour crimes; and
- the intergenerational poverty and exclusion of African descent and other racialized women.
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The rapporteur, Evin Incir (S&D, SE), said: “I am pleased that the first comprehensive report on racial justice, non-discrimination and anti-racism finally has been voted through by the committee. This would not have been possible without the cooperation of other major political groups and civil society organizations. But this must only be the beginning. By moving from words to real action, the EU can really make a difference, and combat racism and discrimination, as well as deliver justice for all people in our Union.”
Next steps
The report is expected to be tabled in Parliament’s plenary sessions in November.