CAMPAIGN REPORT

ACTIVITIES IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES!
- Education against racism in France
- Neo-fascist attacks in Poland
- Refugees welcome! - Campaign in the Netherland

In most European countries anti-racist acitivists showed their commitment against racism. The campaign took place in 34 countries in many many places.
In different countries the opportunity was taken to initiate activities within the educational system or focused on children and youth especially. In France now the national week for anti-racist education takes place during the anti-racism-week. Special newspapers were distributed in schools. Volunteers often prepared special lessons for pupils.
In the Netherlands a big campaign was launched to encounter anti-refugee sentiments. People are encouraged to sign postcards in which they state that they welcome refugees.
Big parties were organised, in which the diversity of culture was celebrated. In Brussels, Barcelona and Prague several thousand people joined those events.
Another form of raising awareness were exhibitions. In the Netherlands exhibitions informed about the history of immigration and refuge. In Luxemburg a exhibition tried to make refugees burdens conceivable. In Bucharest, Romania, an anti-racist poster exhibition opened its doors during the Action-Week Against Racism.


CAMPAIGN REPORT 2000
This report only shows a small selection of the events that took place, compiled from reports, press cuttings, photographs, posters and leaflets sent to the UNITED secretariat by the participating organisations. Of course, many other actions took place in those and other countries too.
Many organisations that are not mentioned in this report have contributed to the campaign in a modest way, by spreading press releases or notes to all addresses in their database or they have sent protest letters to newspapers or authorities about the refugees dying as a result of Fortress Europe.

EUROPEAN COORDINATION
Linked through UNITED, the European network against racism, more than 500 organisations from all European countries work together. UNITED co-ordinated activities in the framework of the European-wide Action Week Against Racism on a European level, it initiated and inspired action, provided information and campaign material. Posters and up-dated activity lists have supported actions of campaigners from Finland to Azerbaijan and from Ireland to Greece. Journalists and campaigners have been provided by overviews of activities and contact addresses.

WHY EUROPEAN CAMPAIGNS?
Racism is not a local issue. Equal rights is an international demand. European campaigns can help set the agenda on all levels. By linking local and national actions throughout the countries of Europe, we can generate European-wide publicity. We can show that there is an enormous amount of people that believe in an intercultural open society.

WHY 21 MARCH ?
March 21st was declared International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the General Assembly of the United Nations as a reaction to the murder of 69 demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa in 1960. During the European-wide Action Week Against Racism, which centres around 21 March, each year thousands of people take a stand against intolerance and for equal rights.

RACISM
Biology has only determined one race: the human race.
Racism is the belief that some people are superior because they belong to a particular race. Racists define a race as a group of people with common ancestry. They distinguish different races from one another by physical characteristics, such as skin colour and hair texture. In fact, there are no clear differences, and especially no significant differences that matter. "Race" is an imagined entity. "Race" has no biological basis. The word "racism" is also used to describe abusive or aggressive behaviour towards members of an "inferior race". Racism takes different forms in different countries, according to history, culture and other social factors. A relatively new form of racism sometimes called "ethnic or cultural differentiation" says that all races or cultures are equal, but they should not mix together to keep their originality. Such a discourse is used to discriminate minority groups, to exclude them of society or even to demand their deportation.

WHAT IS UNITED?
UNITED for Intercultural Action is the European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees. Racism, nationalism, discrimination, restrictive asylum policies These issues have a European dimension. It is important to fight intolerance on all levels. Linked through UNITED, more than 500 organisations from a wide variety of backgrounds, from all European countries, work together on a voluntary basis. They base their common actions and shared activities on a mutual respect. UNITED is and will remain independent from all political parties, organisations and states, but seeks an active co-operation with other anti-racist initiatives in Europe. Through the UNITED network organisations meet each other, work on common actions and share information. European-wide action weeks, campaigns and such are planned and discussed on UNITED conferences. Like-minded organisations find each other on such conferences and work together on specific projects and on specific topics. The workers in the secretariat are in constant contact with the network organisations, ensuring that information and proposals for action are transmitted rapidly. Information is received from more than 1700 organisations and mailings go out to about 2000 groups in Europe.
If you want to get involved Discuss the ideas and aims of the UNITED network within your organisation. Let us know that your organisation would like to join or receive more information. And add us to your mailing list!!

FINLAND
Coulourful demonstration against racism
The European-wide Action Week Against Racism was celebrated this year by many different organisations in Finland.
On 18 March about 200 people participated in a lively demonstration against fascism, deportations and "Fortress Europe" in Helsinki. The demonstration also picked up the actual theme of the new right-wing government in Austria. Protesters demanded another refugee policy. Last year the EU-summit was held in Tampere (Finland) around which many groups mobilised against the European closed-border politics.
Helsinki Antifascists organised a benefit concert in Helsinki for the antifascist and anti-racist movement. The concert was joined by 200 mostly young people.
Many smaller activities took place throughout the country. Refugees and migrants support groups organised a discussion on refugee-right activities in Europe and their legal situations. The Antifa Pohjanmaa set up an anti-racist photo exhibition in Vaasa.
On the Åland Islands an anti-racist evening was organised by the Peace Institute with bands and speeches. A representative of AFA Stockholm held a speech about racism in Europe.
In Oulu a big international conference on integration "ETHICS 2000" took place. During the conference the slogan "See the Person not the Colour" was promoted and intercultural themes were discussed.

FRANCE
Education against discrimination
French right-wing extremist parties (especially the Front National) seem in decline after their great local electoral successes in the mid 1990's due to their split in 1998. Racism is unfortunately still a part of the French society. It is especially felt by the underprivileged and marginalised youth in suburban social housing areas encircling the big cities of France.
Fortunately many parts of the society are involved in the fight against discrimination. Many organisations participated in the national "Week of Education Against Racism". The main aim was to involve children and young people in anti-racist education. Special posters and newspapers for schools were produced. The newspaper informed about anti-discriminatory elements of the French law. Victims of racist discrimination were encouraged to report those incidents which should help to build their own confidence.
La Rochelle was especially active; a whole week of diverse activities was organised. Debates about many aspects of a multicultural society and racism, expositions, theatre plays and many more took place. On saturday a big festival with a diverse cultural program closed the week. A woman of the Ligue de l'Enseignement stated "racism - that is ignorance" in the Newspaper "Ensemble contre le racisme" which was spread in La Rochelle.
In Bourges the Fiestas y Luchas festival took place, like every year. The income of the concert of the band "Zygomatic Zone" was donated to support a "sans-papiers" organisation (an organisation for undocumented people).

HUNGARY
Unity promoted in schools
Hungary is a country with many different ethnic minorities but also with an increasing migrant population. The Unity Movement promoted the European-wide action week and anti-racist principles in several schools. For this purpose leaflets with basic information on racism were spread in schools and short lectures were given by activists of the Unity Movement.

IRELAND
Shout, shout racism out!
Ireland was an emigration country until 30 years ago. The bad economic situation drove many people out of the country during the 19th century, mostly to the USA. Now with an increasingly growing economy, Ireland became an immigration country, and people from other parts of the world are seeking a better life in Ireland. Youth Action Against Racism and Discrimination (YARD) celebrated the diversity of cultures in the Irish society nowadays with music and art in the busy centre of Dublin. People put their hand print on a mural, percussionists made people dance in the streets.
Prime minister Bertie Ahern caused political unrest among opposition parties, NGOs and anti-racist organisations because of remarks he made on a visit to an Australian detention center. He commented that the Australian immigration machinery is an excellent example for Ireland to draw from. These remarks together with previous statements made by government ministers have fuelled racist sentiments among the general population.
In rural parts of Ireland the International Day Against Racism drew attention as well. A secondary school class in Edenderry decided to heighten awareness of racism. The pupils were surprised when they realised during their research how many racist attitudes exist in the Irish society. The pupils designed posters and displayed the slogan "Shout, Shout Racism Out" in their school building.

LATVIA
Nationalists march in favour of Latvian Waffen SS division
An unpleasant incident sparked off activities in the Action Week Against Racism in Latvia. Every year people gather in memory of the Latvian legion of the "Waffen SS". This legion is seen by Latvian nationalists as a force who fought for Latvian independence. Even though the majority of the Latvian parliament does not support this procession, MPs of the nationalist parties took part. Anti-fascist protest organised among others by the Latvian Human Rights Committee were forbidden by the city council. Nevertheless activists picketed the procession risking administrative punishment by the police.
Activists of the Latvian Antifascist Action distributed UNITED information material against racism in Riga.

LUXEMBOURG
A voyage unlike any other
This small country has a considerable migrant community like its neighbouring countries. Every year the Festival of Immigration is celebrated in Luxembourg. This year it took place together with the Festival of Immigration Films showing international films from Italy, the US, Germany, Portugal... The festival itself had a wide ranging program of Mediterranean, North African and Latin bands, a culinary market of international food and information. A conference about modern work slavery took place in the same framework.
ASTI, the organisation of solidarity with immigrant workers, introduced the exhibition "A Voyage Unlike Any Other" to Luxemburg which has been shown in several other European cities before. This interactive exhibition has the aim to make the experiences of refugees like fear, despair and persecution conceivable. The exhibition was visited by three ministers of the Luxembourg government.

ITALY
Inauguration of multicultural center
In the last month there was increasing protest against detention centres in Italy. People live in disastrous conditions in these camps. Last December several people died in a Sicilian detention center in a fire which had been caused by a desperate inmate. Many people drown each year in the waters around Italy during their attempt to immigrate to the European Union.
Associazione Rieti Immigrant Provincia celebrated the Action Week this year with the inauguration of their multicultural center. Many activities accompanied this event. Immigrant women organised a cocktail party, jam sessions and a demonstration of Salsa dancing entertained the participants. A political part was not missing: Students discussed with politicians of several political parties about the situation of foreigners in Rieti.

PORTUGAL
EU Summit and education against racism
The Action Week Against Racism coincided this year with the European Union (EU) Summit, taking place in Lisboa because of Portugal's EU-presidency. A coalition of many political groups, from ecological-, lesbian and gay-, immigrant and anti-racist organisations, trade unions, human right groups and political parties organised an alternative summit and a huge demonstration to protest against excluding politics of the EU. On forums of the alternative summit immigration issues have been discussed. A delegation from Austria declared its solidarity with the protest and reported on the anti-racist movement in their country. Immigrants from El Ejido in Spain reported about the racist riots which took place there in the beginning of this year.
ATLAS - Cooperativa Cultural launched an educational campaign in Porto. The public attention was drawn by many posters that had been put up on the streets and schools. Beside spreading of a manifesto promoting the slogan "See the Person Not the Colour", discussions in secondary schools have been organised. A free language and social integration course has been launched on the occasion of the Action Week Against Racism.

SPAIN
Anti-racism needed now more than ever
Anti-racist groups experienced a set-back when immigrants had been chased like in a witchhunt through the Andalusian town of El Ejido. A Spanish woman was killed by a mentally ill immigrant, which sparked off a rioting lasting several days. Property of many immigrants has been destroyed while the police forces hesitated to intervene.
It was in this climate that many anti-racist activities were organised this year during the anti-racism week.
The Movimiento Contra la Intolerancia organised a series of events all around Spain, and contributed to a "Radio Marathon" filled by the creativity of many migrants, refugees, NGOs and youth.
The annual intercultural party of the CCOO taking place on 18 march in Barcelona was a very big success. Over 2000 people joined the different activities throughout the day. There were political discussions, workshops for children and in the evening a big party.

INTERNATIONAL
Electronic media monitors and reports activities
Again international media campaigns accompanied the Action Week. The Internet Centre Anti-Racism Europe (http://www.icare.to a partnership of Magenta, Duo A and UNITED) posted audiofile interviews with anti-racist activists on its site and opened chat channels for discussion.
AMARC, the European section of the World Association of Community Broadcasters co-ordinated a multilingual 24 hours broadcast. Community stations all over Europe presented multicultural programs and focused on the dangerous forms of racial discrimination in different parts of the world.
And in Canada many events took place this year around 21 March as well. The campaign was promoted by the government there.

ROMANIA
Fashion show shows ethnic diversity
The situation of inter ethnic relations is difficult in Romania. Especially Roma are discriminated, and are facing many prejudices. The efforts of organisations like Youth Action for Peace (YAP), Service Civil International (SCI) or the Student Association against Racism (ASLIR) in combating xenophobia and prejudice help to progress towards good inter ethnic relations in Romania.
Activities concentrated on education. In Galati school classes discussed discrimination, racism and xenophobia. Leaflets, badges and postcards were spread throughout the city in order to promote anti-racism.
SCI Romania, with the Romanian Refugee Council, ASLIR and Club A organised a series of multicultural events. On 20 March an anti-racist poster exhibition was opened, followed by several concerts and an "Ethno Fashion Show".
In Oradea Youth Action for Peace co-operated with several groups of ethnic minorities in order to raise public awareness about racism. Posters and leaflets were distributed in a central shopping street.
In Cluj Napoca a serie of events was organised by the local YAP-group. Leaflets and posters were distributed and a seminar was organised.

AUSTRIA
The struggle against "blue-black" continues
The movement against the new ("blue-black") government coalition of the conservative ÖVP and the right-wing extremist FPÖ is strongly linked to a commitment against racism. In October 1999 the FPÖ (the "Freedom Party") gained 27% of the votes. Coalition negotiations between the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Christian Democrats (ÖVP) failed. A broad protest movement evolved when the conservatives decided to form a government coalition with the Freedom Party. Regular demonstrations followed, but also other forms of protest like occupations of significant places, street parties, strikes etc. In Vienna weekly demonstrations are taking place since two months. On 19th February several hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Vienna to demonstrate against racism.
The Integrationshaus in Vienna organised in the Action Week the annual "Refugee Ball". With this years motto of the ball they joined the wave of protest. The motto was "Linkswalzer gegen Rechtsruck" which literally means "a left turning waltz against a jerk to the right". This became a political issue as the conservative party of Vienna refused to sponsor the event this year because they understood it as an affront against their new government.
Other activities included the film festival Europa, Europa organised by SOS-Mitmensch. On the occasion of the International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination a performance linking sounds of different parts of the world together via internet, turned the Siebenbrunnenplatz into a sound landscape.

AZERBAIJAN
Racism and migration policy
Azerbaijan took part in the European-wide Action Week Against Racism with a seminar about migration problems. Several NGOs shared their concerns with government officials. Information material on racism was distributed among students and participants of the seminar.

CZECHIA
Over 2400 people celebrate inerculturalism
A recent conflict about a wall shutting off a Roma inhabited area in Usti nad Labem shows the inter ethnic conflicts that exist in the Czech society.
Every year interculturalism is celebrated in the European-wide Action Week Against Racism in Lucerna, the biggest dancing hall of Prague with a "beach ball". This year the event was a complete success. Over 2400 young people joined the event, which promoted acquaintance with African culture. Members of the government, the Council Against Racism and from various African embassies joined the event. There were African dances from the Ivory Coast and two African bands.

GREECE
Art against racism
Greece is a country which is very close to areas of violent ethnic conflict and is experiencing the influx of migrants and refugees resulting from this.
The Social anti-Racist Cultural movement RIGMA dealt with the theme immigration in a cultural manner. A theatre play about two women, one immigrant the other native, symbolically trying to share a bank in the park was shown in Athens. The theatre play was followed by a discussion. RIGMA organised a discussion about arts and human rights in which amongst others an Albanian sculptor and an African poet took part. Furthermore the film L'America was shown, which is about refugees from Albania arriving by boat in Italy.

POLAND
Neo-fascist provocations disturb Action Week
Many activities were organised this year around the European-wide Action Week. Unfortunately the violent Polish neo-nazi movement tried to disturb some anti-racist events. In Bielsko-Biala a person was beaten up severely by neo-fascist skinheads on 21 March. The high number of such incidents indicates a worrying trend. There is a lot of work ahead for the anti-racist movement.
But in an overall evaluation the Action Week was a success, covered well by diverse media.
Many anti-racist demonstrations took place during the Action Week: On 18 March in Tarnobrzeg, on 21 March in Rzeszow and in Warsaw (especially directed against deportations), on 25 March in Warsaw again and one in Czestochowa. Activities were attacked by neo-fascists in Jaslo, Tarnobrzeg and in Chelm.
On 21 March local people removed racist graffiti in Lodz. Unfortunately nazi-graffiti appeared again in the evening on the wall of the synagogue and the home of Marek Edelmann, the last living commander of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
On 17 March a meeting with the editor of the "Never Again" magazine with a Polish-German-Italian group in the International Youth Meeting House in Oswiecim was organised by Polska Akcja Humanitarna and the Never Again Association. In Bielsko-Biala an extraordinary series of events was organised despite the fact that local far-right councillors tried to stop the activities. There were reggae, rock and classical concerts, workshops in local schools, a manifestation, lectures on the topics multiculturalism, anti-racism and fascism and a poetry evening. The activities were organised by a coalition of several local groups.
In Lomza and Torun rock concerts, part of the "Music Against Racism" campaign took place. And also a compilation music cassette "Cyber Music Against Racism" featuring mostly electronic music, was published. The compilation is a protest against the increasing use of electronic media by fascists.
On 21 March the "Never Again Association" published a report documenting nearly thirty cases of extreme violence and discrimination of Roma in Poland. The report blamed extremist racist organisations for inciting hatred against Roma.
Never Again Association conducted also a special radio-campaign, with broadcasts on Radio Koszalin - Slups, Radio Krakow, Radio Sto - Pila, Nasze Radio - Sieradz and on Radio Stacja - Warsaw.

SWEDEN
National conference against racism
Like every year the national conference of anti-racist organisation took place, organised by the Network Against Racism and Violence. The participants discussed strategies and themes for the next year and urgent issues. This is the biggest forum of anti-racist organisation with over 80 participating groups in Sweden.

SLOVAKIA
Street action
The Slovak Helsinki committee in cooperation organised with other groups a series of excellent activities during the Action Week. Anti-racist posters were displayed in the streets, while children had the possibility to paint anti-racist themes. Representatives of ethnic minorities held speeches and bands performed their music. Furthermore a seminar and a discussion about racism were organised.

BELGIUM
"No race, just diversity"
Activities during the European-wide Action Week concentrated around the capital Brussels. "Brussel Gekleurd/Bruxelles en Couleurs" organised the big festival "No Race, Just Diversity". The theme this year was immigration in good and bad times. In the afternoon different bands performed and anti-racist organisations had the possibility to present themselves. In the evening there was a dance-night with several DJs. The festival was visited by 1600 people!
The umbrella organisation of Flemish parents-groups promoted the campaign to its members by distributing the UNITED poster.

NETHERLANDS
Refugees welcome!
The Action Week Against Racism enjoys lively participation since several years. The Netherlands is a multicultural society with a considerable migrant community from many parts of the world. How difficult relations could be was shown recently by several conflicts about new reception centres for asylum-seekers which were rejected by parts of the local population. Discrimination and prejudice are part of everyday life for immigrant citizens.
To counter anti-refugee sentiments Nederland Bekent Kleur launched the campaign "Refugees Welcome!". Many activities followed this motto. The refugee campaign was launched on a big manifestation on the central Dam square in Amsterdam. The first postcard, on which a person can declare that he will welcome refugees in the Netherlands, was symbolically signed by two important personalities and many anti-racist, migrant or refugee support organisations presented their work on stands. The manifestation was supported by bands and DJs.
The Resistance Museum in Amsterdam opened an exhibition about a camp which was set up during the war by the German occupiers as concentration camp, but was used after the war to host refugees.
North of Amsterdam, in Zaandam the exhibition "Facts About Refugees" was shown. On 18 march a big music-, literature- and film-festival took place in a local cinema.
The Haarlem anti-racist group Haarlem Bekent Kleur concentrated on the contribution of youth to a multicultural society. There was a discussion about how cultures meet in sports, a manifestation about how Christians and Muslims can contribute to inter ethnic relations in Haarlem and also an exhibition about the different groups of refugees who came to Haarlem over the last 100 years. Another exhibition showed photos made by local politicians showing the multicultural society of Haarlem. The week was closed with a dance night "United Colours of Haarlem".
Festivals also took place in Leiden and in Eindhoven. In Leiden the festival was related to an anti-racist football campaign.
In many cities anti-racist material was distributed or published in local newspapers. Often the integration and acceptance of refugees was promoted. Some anti-discrimination offices (the ADBs) made special reports about racist incidents they collected. Around the city of Den Bosch racist graffiti was removed.
The ADB Oost focused on sport and racism. In a debate the connection between football, racism, violence and vandalism was examined.

MOLDOVA
Drawing competition against intolerance and discrimination
The Youth Helsinki Citizen's Assembly and the UNHCR in Moldova conducted a school and student drawing competition with the theme "Youth of Moldova Against Intolerance and Discrimination". The competition was a very big success and many children participated. A special edition of the youth magazine Collage will pay attention to the results of the competition. The action has been covered by many radio stations and newspapers.
In Balti the Juventus Youth Association distributed UNITED poster to organisations, schools and university students.

RUSSIA
UNITED posters in Samara
The war in Chechnya was a big blow to the roots of democratisation in Russia. People from the Caucasus region are discriminated on many levels of the society and other minorities experience discrimination as well. Any attempts in fighting intolerance are of a high value, as a consequence. The Samara society for Cultural Studies distributed the UNITED poster and info-material to teachers and students in Samara.

SWITZERLAND
Protest against reception of new Austrian government
Activities in Switzerland took place mostly after the European-wide Action Week. On the occasion of the visit of the Austrian chancellor and the foreign minister of the Freedom Party to Switzerland the anti-racist movement took the streets.
On 30 and 31 March demonstrations and manifestations were organised against the reception of the Austrian new government. The activities were supported by a coalition of anti-racist groups.
The political landscape in Switzerland has its own rising star of populism. Christoph Blocher, the leader of the Swiss People's Party attracts his voters also with racism and a speech of prejudice.
The Forum Against Racism criticised racist marks of Blocher's Peoples Party and Blochers absurd accusation of the Swiss Social-Democrats being near to fascism.
A film was shown about the political circles the Austrian politician Jörg Haider from the FPÖ came from, in connection to the protest against a cooperation between the Swiss and the Austrian government.

TURKEY
Support for refugee communities
The ethnic conflict in Kurdistan puts a lot of pressure on human rights organisations as well as the authoritarian behaviour of security forces. But for many people Turkey is also a place of refuge for conflicts in the surrounding countries.
The Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers ASAM, an Ankara based NGO, organised activities in support of refugee communities in several Turkish cities.

UKRAINE
The black community examines racist strucures in seminar
In the framework of the Week Against Racism the African National Society organised a seminar titled "Acquaintance with Africa". Children from African descent presented pieces of dancing and verses. The participants discussed experiences of racial discrimination in the Ukraine and Russia. Most participants were students, workers or clerks from African origin who live in Russia or Ukraine. The seminar made clear that many forms of discrimination against black people exist in the Ukrainian society. The event drew quite a lot of media attention.

YUGOSLAVIA
Posters to raise awareness
The wounds are still deep after the wars in the area of former Yugoslavia. Hatred between the different ethnic groups is rooted deep. Groups who operate with the task to overcome ethnic tensions have not only to fight against many prejudices but also to deal with repression and a lack of resources.
Anti-Racists put up posters in various cities of the Vojvodina and parts of Serbia to raise people's awareness.

GREAT-BRITAIN
Protest against new detention centre and asylum policy
The National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns organised a demonstration in front of the Prime Minister's house in Downing Street in London, against a new "fast-track" deportation centre in Oakington. The purpose of this deportation centre is to process asylum applications in an extremely short period of time. The NCADC fears that application will not be examined thoroughly. The centre is designed for 400 people.

MACEDONIA
Information material for the general public
In Macedonia organisation's activities concentrated on informing the public through distribution of information material. The Organisation for Cultural Collaboration printed 10.000 posters and 5.000 leaflets.

MALTA
Drawing competition against racism
The Ecological Foundation of Malta, ECO organised a drawing competition whose award ceremony took place exactly on 21 March. To promote the campaign among the educational system and governmental structures posters were sent to many schools and local councils.

GERMANY
Refugee council criticises German asylum policy
In Germany the European-wide Action Week Against Racism was not celebrated as enthousiastically as in previous years. In Berlin anti-racist organisations concentrated on countering a neo-fascist demonstration that was planned to go from the Brandenburg gate to the immigrant inhabited quarter of Kreuzberg some weeks before the anti-racism week.
The Berlin refugee council criticised the Berlin refugee policy as inhumane and racist in a press release, released on 21 March.
Each year SOS-Rassismus-NRW gives a price (the "Golden Hammer") to organisations or persons who made special efforts in overcoming racism. This year the price was handed over to the football fan initiative of the Schalke football club.
Furthermore several seminars took place that dealt with racism or inter-ethnic problems. The Dokumentations und Informationszentrum für Rassismusforschung organised a seminar analysing racist language use. The educational trust of the Thuringian trade unions offered a seminar about ethnic jokes. The seminar examined in how far jokes have been used to discriminate minorities and how minorities joke about themselves.

GEORGIA
Combating racism
Georgia is situated very close to the conflict in Chechnya. The political situation of the young country remains difficult in this unstable region.
The organisation Human Rights in Georgia distributed various information materials to schools and showed the Georgian version of the film "Stand up for Human Rights". Furthermore a seminar with the theme "Combating Racism and Related Intolerance in Georgia" took place.

BULGARIA
Awareness about the situation of refugees
In Bulgaria activities mainly focused on refugees, as refugee support organisations organised activities. The Refugee and Migrant Service of the Red Cross organised workshops for children providing basic information about refugees. A press release and information leaflet were published.

BELARUS
"We are against racsim"
The UNESCO clubs initiated the events of the Week Against Racism in Belarus. NGOs face difficult conditions in their work. The authoritarian government of Lukashenko is inventing new bureaucratic obstacles to make the life of the opposition and NGOs as hard as possible.
The UNESCO clubs organised a series of activities promoting a discrimination-free society. Activities took place in several cities throughout the country.

KYRGYSZTAN
Road of drawings
In Kyrgysztan problems around racism, fascism and nationalism were examined in an artistic manner. The Youth Human Rights Group organised activities for young people entitled "Road of drawings" and "Tree of happiness".

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UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees
Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands
phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582
info@unitedagainstracism.org, www.unitedagainstracism.org