[05/12/08 12:00] Joint statement of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights on the Durban review conference -
The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director of the European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency jointly call on European governments to remain engaged in the preparations for a United Nations review conference against racism in April 2009. "Racism is a global phenomenon. No country, no region, is free of this social ill - including the European countries", say Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, and Morten Kjaerum, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
Respect for equality in diversity is a central premise for building democratic and inclusive societies. The Durban agenda against racism and discrimination must be matched with concrete action and endured vigilance at local, national and European levels. This follow-up conference provides an opportunity to illustrate and review many of the concrete and important steps taken in European countries to realise the goals proclaimed at the World Conference. We can take pride in the advancements that European countries have made, but much remains to be done to fight racism globally and regionally.
Recent reports published by the Commissioner for Human Rights, the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Commission show that in Europe groups that are particularly vulnerable to racism include Roma, Sinti, Travellers, members of African, Jewish and Muslim communities, migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, other national, ethnic or religious minorities, and indigenous peoples. Discrimination based on ethnic origin is seen by 62 percent of respondents to be the most widespread form of discrimination in the European Union. Many people in Europe become victims of multiple forms of discrimination. Elderly or disabled members of minorities, female migrants, Roma women and children, refugees who are homosexual, and many other groups experience particularly entrenched and painful forms of discrimination.
