The Council of Europe’s anti-racism body, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), has published reports on Finland, Ireland and Montenegro, assessing the progress they have made in their legal and institutional anti-discrimination frameworks, policies to protect rights of groups in situation of vulnerability, such as Roma, Travellers and LGBTI persons, to foster inclusiveness in schools, as well as to combat racist and anti-LGBTI hate speech and crime.
Hate speech online and in politics priority for Finland
In its report on Finland ECRI welcomes the positive developments since the previous report in 2019, such as the adoption of a new Act on the recognition of gender, the action plan for combating racism and promoting equality, and a government campaign against racism. In addition, the non-discrimination ombudsman has been empowered to deal with individual complaints of discrimination in employment on all prohibited grounds falling within ECRI’s mandate.
However, despite the progress achieved, some issues give rise to concern. Among 13 recommendations provided, ECRI considered that the authorities should, as a matter of priority, prepare and bring to the Parliament a comprehensive bill that would expressly acknowledge the right of intersex persons to bodily integrity and prohibit the performance of medically unnecessary surgeries and other non-therapeutic treatments until the intersex child is able to participate in decisions.
Another priority recommendation to the authorities of Finland is to take action to counter racist and LGBTI-phobic hate speech, including online and in the political sphere. Finland should set up a special working group comprising representatives of all relevant authorities, the equality bodies, civil society organisations, academia and the media, to develop a detailed programme of concrete and measurable actions against hate speech, ECRI says.
Ireland needs hate-speech legislation
Concerning Ireland, ECRI highlighted a number of positive developments that took place since 2019, including the launch of a new National Action Plan against racism, the preparation of a draft National LGBTQI+ Inclusion Strategy and new mechanisms for dealing with hate crime. ECRI also welcomed the adoption of important new measures concerning Travellers and Roma, as well as efforts to support staff in fostering inclusiveness in schools.
At the same time, ECRI made a total of 15 recommendations. It notably called for, as a matter of priority, new legislative measures punishing hate speech and recommended improving the availability and quality of accommodation for people seeking or granted international protection. ECRI underlined, among other things, that hate speech remains widespread and that Travellers and Roma continue to face high levels of racism and discrimination.
Montenegro improves integration of Roma and Egyptian pupils, problems remain
In its report on Montenegro, covering the period from 2017 to 2025, ECRI notes the progress made, and good practices developed, such as teacher training on multiculturalism and inclusive education, as well as school exchanges between areas with different historical populations - a practice that ECRI encourages the authorities to continue. It also welcomes the adoption of the Law on life partnership of same-sex persons, along with progress on the new law on legal gender recognition. The number of children from Roma and Egyptian communities enrolled in preschool and primary schools has increased.
In its report, ECRI provided 15 recommendations to the authorities. Among the issues that still give rise to concern in Montenegro are those linked to the organisational and operational independence of the Ombudsman institution. ECRI underlined that the authorities should, as a matter of priority, ensure the ombudsman’s full independence, in particular in the areas of recruitment and financial management.
Despite efforts towards a better integration of Roma and Egyptians, only 14% of pupils from these groups complete their secondary schooling. Some 70% of Roma and Egyptians are estimated to be unemployed, and their access to healthcare and their housing situation often remains problematic. ECRI considered that strong measures to ensure equal treatment are required in this regard, and that, as a matter of priority, the authorities should complete the registration of all displaced Roma and Egyptians (as well as persons self-identifying as Ashkali) from Kosovo* present in Montenegro, including their children.
The reports assess the situation in Finland, Ireland and Montenegro until mid-March 2025. ECRI will assess the implementation of priority recommendations provided to these three countries within two years.
*Throughout this document, all reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
ECRI reports on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
ECRI reports on Romania, Slovenia and Spain
Read the report on Finland in full (in Finnish)
Read the report on Ireland in full
Read the report on Montenegro in full (in Montenegrin)
