Fighting Discrimination on the Ground of Race and Ethnic Origin
Fighting Discrimination on the Ground of Race and Ethnic Origin
Authors: Chrysoula Malisianou, Dóra Bogárdi, Kremena Lazarova, Silvana Röbstorf, Lindsey Reynolds, Veronika Bazalová
Race and ethnic origin was the first ground on which EU legislation required Member States to set up equality bodies. Many Member States did so even before this became a legally binding requirement under EU law.
Until today, discrimination on the ground of one’s race and ethnic origin remains one of the most experienced forms of inequality. In many European countries racial and ethnic minorities, and in particular Roma people, remain the most disadvantaged and persecuted groups in society.
This discussion paper was drafted by Equinet’s Working Group on Equality Law and aims to discuss key legal issues and challenges, available tools and good practices in fighting discrimination on the ground of race and ethnic origin. It is based on a survey answered by 19 equality bodies.
Main Findings
- Equality bodies are valuable actors in fighting discrimination on the ground of race and ethnic origin if they are independent, adequately resourced and empowered to do so.
- Equality bodies report a significant rise in discrimination, hate speech and hate crime related to race and ethnic origin.
- 12 out of 19 equality bodies indicated a more aggressive public discourse around refugees and migrants, an increase in hate speech and racist behavior more generally and an increase of hostility towards racial and ethnic minorities of all kinds.
- Negative media coverage and political speeches have exacerbated the situation. Negative public discourse and hostility have thus increased towards migrants and refugees, as well as ethnic minority Europeans.
- 17 out of 19 equality bodies indicated that Roma tend to find themselves in particularly vulnerable situations compared to other racial and ethnic minorities.
The fields in which discrimination on the ground of race and ethnic origin most often occurs, as well as good practice examples of national equality bodies to combat discrimination on the ground of race and ethnic origin can be found in the 2-page summary and the full discussion paper.
