The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) recently published a survey that shows a significant rise in racial discrimination towards first- and second-generation Black immigrants in 13 European Union countries. The countries with the highest rates of discrimination and harassment indicated by the survey were Austria, Germany, and Finland. Full story here.
According to the survey, titled “Being Black in the EU,” the percentage of respondents who reported experiencing racial discrimination in the last 12 months rose by 10 points over six years, reaching 34 percent. Almost 50 percent of the respondents revealed they felt discriminated against in at least one aspect of their life in the five years preceding the survey. Over a third reported experiencing discrimination in the past year. Here is the link to the survey.
In response to this escalating issue, the FRA has urged EU countries to enforce anti-discrimination laws more effectively and apply dissuasive sanctions. It has also encouraged the identification and documentation of hate crimes, giving particular attention to bias motivation when determining penalties.
According to Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, any form of discrimination based on various aspects including sex, race, color, ethnicity, social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, among other things, is strictly prohibited.
Michael O’Flaherty, FRA Director, has expressed concern over this increasing trend. He found it shocking to see no improvement since the previous survey in 2016, and instead, people of African descent are facing greater discrimination due to the color of their skin. O’Flaherty reinforces that racism and discrimination have no place in our societies and urges the EU and its Member States to use these findings to better direct their efforts. This will ensure that people of African descent too can enjoy their rights freely without the undue burden of racism and discrimination, his statement reads.