Strasbourg, 28/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the specialised body of the Council of Europe that groups 45 member states, has published five new reports on the situation in the following countries:
Belgium: The question of the political parties using racist and xenophobic propaganda still causes great concern, ECRI says, adding that there is still much to be done to guarantee that foreigners and persons of immigrant origins have real equal employment opportunities.
Bulgaria: In addition to the serious problems of prejudice and discrimination against minority groups and the Roma in particular, ECRI notes serious problems concerning the excessive use of firearms and force by the police against the Roma. Segregation at school continues to affect Roma children. The new law on cults and religions, adopted in 2002, does not settle all the problems concerning the freedom of religion in Bulgaria.
Norway: There is still much to be done to guarantee that foreigners and persons of immigrant origin benefit from equal opportunities in employment and housing.
Slovakia: There is continued violence of a racist kind, including serious police brutality. The Roma minority remains disadvantaged in most areas, mainly in housing, employment and education. The ECRI calls for complete, transparent and impartial investigations to be carried out on the recent allegations relating to the sterilisation of Roma women. It is alleged that such sterilisations have taken place without the full and informed consent of the women concerned.
Switzerland: The difference in the discriminatory behaviour and treatment of the police towards members of certain minority groups - particularly black Africans - is a cause for concern, as is the general climate of public opinion toward this group. The question of asylum seekers and refugees also gives rise to a negative and hostile debate in the public and political arenas, ECRI recalls.
Reports are available in French and English on the internet site: http://www.coe.int/ecri