Brussels, 03/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 February, the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published its conclusions on discrimination as part of the exhibition organised by the agencies of the EU at the European Parliament, entitled The Way Ahead. These conclusions show that people who belong to “visible” minorities such as the Roma and people of Afro-Caribbean origin are more likely to suffer multiple discrimination (in other words, they are faced with discrimination based on more than one ground) than the other minorities. Another relevant reason for discrimination which can amplify the experience of multiple discrimination is made up of socio-economic factors, such as living with a low income.
The results of the FRA survey indicate that: (1) one in four respondents from an ethnic minority or immigration background felt that they had been discriminated against on at least two grounds in the 12 months preceding the survey; (2) the ethnic origin or immigration background appeared to be the main reason behind the discrimination suffered by the respondents; (3) the grounds for discrimination are essentially as follows: ethnic origin or immigration background, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion or faith, disability or “other” reasons felt by respondents to be relevant.
As part of its EU-MIDIS survey, which was carried out across the EU on discrimination suffered by immigrants and minorities, the FRA spoke to 23,500 people with an ethnic minority or immigration background in all 27 member states of the EU. In a press release, the FRA notes that the grounds for discrimination are similar to the results obtained by a survey carried out at the majority population: (1) those who belong to ethnic minorities are on average five times more likely to suffer multiple discrimination than members of the majority population. (2) the “visible minorities”, in other words people who generally present a different physical appearance from the majority population, believe that they frequently suffer discrimination and on a higher number of grounds than the other minorities. For example, the Roma and people of Afro-Caribbean origin are more likely to be discriminated against than people from the former Yugoslavia, people of Russian origin and people from Central and Eastern Europe. (3) sex and age may have an effect on the likelihood that a person will suffer discrimination: for example, young men from an ethnic minority or immigration background tended to report higher levels of discriminatory treatment. (4) some 46% of people who have suffered discrimination on various grounds were in the lowest income quartile for their member state. For more information: media@fra.europa.eu (G. B./transl.fl)