An ongoing struggle

France, Georgia, Poland and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have undertaken “significant efforts in the struggle against racial discrimination, xenophobia and anti-Semitism”. There remain several questions that constitute “reason for concern”. Nils Muiznieks, President of ECRI (the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance) thus comments on the four national reports issued June 15 which take stock of the developments under way in areas such as legislation, for combating discrimination in schools and on the workplace, along with the exploitation of racist sentiments for political purposes and the situation of vulnerable groups. France. The general tone of the debate on immigration, the prejudice against Muslims and the numerous complaints for acts of racism submitted by immigrant citizens to the police “are reason for concern”, said Muiznieks in presenting the report on the situation in France, the fourth submitted by the Commission over the past years. The country is still lacking caravan pitches for Roma people “some of whom live in unacceptable conditions” and “are the victims of a climate of hostility”. While a part of the population questions Muslims’ authentic yearning to “respect French values”, the debate on the ban of the niqab, states the report, “increased sentiments of discrimination” amongst the latter. As regards positive developments, “the legal framework to combat discrimination has been strengthened”, states the report. The police, prosecutors and judges have received training and their response to racially motivated offences has improved. ECRI’s recommendations include: “To support and regularly consult the High Authority against Discrimination and for Equality (HALDE), “combat racist expressions on the Internet” and “ensure the ongoing schooling of itinerant or semi-itinerant Traveller children, in consultation with the Traveller community”.Georgia. In the third Report on Georgia ECRI highlights the progress in combating “discrimination on the grounds of “race”, colour, language, religion, of nationality” and highlights “marginalisation due to the extreme poverty” of the Roma stressing “the isolation of Armenia and Azerbaijan travellers” also due to linguistic problems. In expressing appreciation over the “fundamental role” of the Georgian Ombudsman, the report recalls the “National Strategy for Tolerance and Civil Integration” adopted in 2009. Among the recommendations figure the reform of the teaching of Georgian to ethnic minority pupils; assistance to ethnic-minority graduates to find appropriate jobs; and the development of “an integration strategy for Meskhetian Turks explaining the historical reasons for their return” to Georgia. Poland. The ECRI report expresses concern for the fact that anti-Semitism is “partially tolerated” by the political world and influential media, for racism among football fans and serious insults to Black players and for the lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. The reports highlights the commitment of the Government’s Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment in providing “appropriate training” to the police along with “important measures to counter discrimination in the field of education”. The CoE Commission urges to present “comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation” to Parliament while “the Polish Football Association” is encouraged “to develop a code of conduct to address fans’ racism”.The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Muiznieks acknowledged improvements in the Criminal Code “towards consolidating the legal framework to combat racism”, along with the definition of a civil-law bill on protection against discrimination. At the same time, the country continues to be divided along ethnic lines while “Statements by politicians and opinion leaders do not assist reconciliation”. “Segregation in the school system is common”, whereby “Teaching in languages other than Macedonian appears to be insufficient or of poor quality”. The “national strategy” notwithstanding, the Roma face difficulties with education, employment and access to health care. ECRI urges Macedonian authorities to “Adopt comprehensive civil legislation on protection against discrimination”, and “Ensure that no Roma children are unnecessarily sent to educational facilities for pupils with a mental disability”, whilst devising and implementing, “in close co-operation with civil society, a national strategy to combat racism and intolerance in the long term”. The recommendations “will be revisited by ECRI” in two years’ time.