Strasbourg, 24/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published five new reports on racism on 16 May.
Cyprus: the legal and institutional framework against racial discrimination has been considerably strengthened. However, ECRI considers the continuing lack of a comprehensive immigration and integration policy has resulted in immigrants being particularly vulnerable to human rights violations, exploitation and discrimination.
Denmark: ECRI notes that the Nationality Act, the Immigration Act and the Aliens' Act have been modified in a manner which disproportionately restricts the ability of members of minority groups to acquire Danish citizenship, to benefit from spousal and family reunification and to have access to social protection on a par with the rest of society.
Italy: the authorities have established a specialised body to combat racial discrimination, which assists victims and raises awareness of this phenomenon among the general public. Immigration legislation, however, has made the situation of many non-EU citizens more precarious, and its implementation, notably in respect of immigrants without legal status, has resulted in the exposure of these persons to higher risk of human rights violations, says ECRI.
Luxemburg: Luxemburg has adopted a new law easing requirements on the participation of foreigners in local elections. However, housing conditions for asylum seekers and refugees still leave much to be desired, and no policy has been introduced to integrate communities from an immigrant background in matters such as employment and housing.
Russia: ECRI considers that greater urgency is required at both local and national levels to tackle the problems of racism, racial discrimination, extremism and hate speech. Existing provisions are not adequately implemented, particularly because the racist motive behind offences is not taken sufficiently into account. Visible minorities and members of minority religious groups are the main targets of racially motivated attacks and of speech inciting racial hatred.