Equal
Rights - Access for All
17-25 March 2001
European-wide Action Week Against Racism
 ACTIVITIES IN 37
COUNTRIES
During
the "European-wide Action Week Against Racism" 2001,
activists in 37 countries all over Europe their commitment against
racism.
For the first time activities
took place in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the Nansen Dialogue Centre
organised a "Conference Against Racism", and in Kazakhstan,
where the organisation "Dialogue" organised competitions
among students and music events. In Turkey the Association for
Solidarity with Asylumseekers and Migrants organised a seminar,
an exhibition and class sessions against racism.
In France, Ireland and Poland activities were organised during
the whole month of March. In the Netherlands activities have
been organised in over a dozen cities.
AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
prepared a 24-hours radio-campaign from Johannesburg (SA), Montreal
(CDN) and Vienna (A) relayed via the Internet and via satellite
to community and free radios world-wide.
CAMPAIGN
REPORT 2001
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!!
INTERNATIONAL
 Many different activities on a
European and global scale took place during the Action Week Against
Racism 2001. On 21 March the World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) organised "Radio Voix sans Frontières,
a 24-hours radio-campaign from Johannesburg (SA), Montreal (CDN)
and Vienna (A) relayed via the Internet and via satellite. Aim
of the action was to promote anti-racism by involving community
and free radios world-wide.
With a world-wide web cast and a youth forum in New York another
media campaign was launched by MTV Europe in co-operation with
the United Nations. Under the title "Fight for Your Rights:
Take a Stand Against Discrimination" the campaign aimed
to help young adults in the fight against racism and promote
tolerance in their lives and communities.
In a study about the state of racism in Europe, published by
the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC)
on 20 March, it was found that 14 % of EU-citizens are openly
xenophobic.
UNITED co-ordinates activities on European level, by informing
the media and other NGOs about what is happening in each country.
An updated list of activities has been made available through
the UNITED website.
A Europe-wide media release has supported the media work at local
and national level. UNITED has produced a poster (see below)
and postcards for this year's campaign. 30.000 posters have been
distributed throughout Europe. The campaign report of last year
has served activists as an inspiration with lots of examples
of activities.
ALBANIA
Several activities were organised
in Albania during the European-wide Action Week Against Racism
2001 by the IRSH organisation. The project "Roma Children"
aims to sensitise people about Roma children, who often have
no possibility to visit a school until the age of 11. This project
was launched during the Action Week and will go on until June
2001.
AUSTRIA
The activities that took place
during the European-wide Action Week in Austria were linked with
protests against the racist election campaign of the "Freedom
Party". After several verbal attacks of party-leader Haider
against the president of the Jewish community in Austria, around
10.000 people demonstrated against racism and anti-Semitism on
the Stephansplatz in Wien.
On 30 March the 7th Refugee Ball took place in the Viennese city
hall, organised by the Integrationshaus. The motto of the evening
was "In a Good Mood for Participation", in support
of the political aims of the Integrationshaus: the right to vote
for immigrants. About 2500 people took part and the Integrationshaus
made about 45.000 Euro profit, which is very important for the
support of the asylum-seekers living in the Integrationshaus.
AZERBAIJAN
On a seminar organised by Secular
Progress Youth Organization in Baku on 23 March 2001, the conflicts
in the Caucasus region were discussed by young leaders, journalists
and NGO representatives. In the press release which was published
about the results of the seminar the organisers stated that the
violence and hate between ethnic groups have their origin in
nationalism and religious fundamentalism. By involving the mass-media,
the organisations promoted anti-racism and peace during the European-wide
Action Week Against Racism. In a radio-interview racism was discussed
and an exhibition with student photographs and UNITED posters
took
BELARUS
The authoritarian government of
Lukashenko makes it extremely difficult for democratic non-governmental
organisations to work in Belarus. Although serious problems like
the discrimination of minorities, torture in prisons or corrupt
authorities have to be combated, it is hard for the NGOs to continue
their work. Despite of this situation the International Day Against
Racism was celebrated in Grodno by the organisation "Maladaya
Gramada".
BELGIUM
On 21 March, the European-wide
project "School Without Racism" was launched in Brussels.
Students from Belgium and the Netherlands talked about their
experiences, took part in anti-racist workshops and attended
a presentation of teaching aids. The public was informed through
a press conference.
 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
For the first time in the history
of the European-wide Action Week Against Racism, activities took
place in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Nansen Dialogue Centers in Sarajevo
and Banja Luca organised a conference against racism and distributed
UNITED posters. The opinion "we don't have racism here"
is commonplace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The awareness-raising
campaign with general information about this European-wide
problem was very successful. The project co-ordinators reported
about enthusiastic volunteers that helped the campaign to work
well and helped to give it a strong impact among the people.
BULGARIA
Especially Roma become victims
of a period of economic and social transition in Bulgaria. Unemployed
and impoverished, they are forced to live in ghetto-like neighbourhoods
on the peripheries of towns or settlements. They often lack basic
services.
Although there is a growing movement against the Roma which is
gaining intellectual support, but there are also organisations
in Bulgaria that do important work for better conditions for
Roma people and promote tolerance. During the European-wide Action
Week the organisation "Health of Romani People Foundation"
organised a round table conference in Sliven where possibilities
were discussed to enable better access to health care for Roma
people.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Racism, discrimination and cultural
intolerance towards Roma people, the largest minority in Czechia,
are still serious problems. As a part of the project "The
Variants" that concentrates on an improvement of relations
between Czech people and minorities, the "People in Need
Foundation" organised a concert in Praha with Czech, American,
Slovak and Roma musicians on 21 March.
With the idea of promoting interculturalism by exploring the
cultural richness of our world and realising the great potential
of diversity, the Beach Ball Africa took place in Praha for the
fourth time. More than 2700 (mostly young) people participated
and all music bands played for free. Also the media campaign
was very successful: the Beach Ball was covered by two tv-stations,
several newspapers and the internet.
DENMARK
The extreme-right "Danish
People's Party" (DPP) promotes racist ideas. They state
that Denmark is not a country intended for immigration. The party
disagrees with the statement that Denmark will develop into a
multi-ethnic society. Anti-racist organisations in Denmark have
to be watchful, to make sure, that the populism and racism from
the far right does not gain power in the same way as in Austria.
During the European-wide Action Week Against Racism a round table
conference against racism took place in København.
ESTONIA
Several activities took place
during the European-wide Action Week Against Racism in Estonia.
The "AIDS Information and Support Center" co-organised
a common meeting with students and volunteers from different
nationalities and distributed UNITED posters around the city
of Talinn. A panel discussion on racial discrimination and related
intolerance took place on one of the most visited websites in
Russian and Estonian language.
FINLAND
The European-wide Action Week
Against Racism was supported by many people in Finland. In Vaasa
the Antifa-Pohjanmaa organised an anti-racist exhibition and
a concert with the punk-band "Juggling Jugulars" that
protested with songs like "smugglers" against the EU-refugee
policies.
The radio station "Radio Robin Hood" in Turku organised
in the framework of the international campaign "Radio Voix
Sans Frontières" a programme about discrimination
and racism in Finland and pointed out the realities of migrants
and refugees.
The Finish Red Cross organised local events "How Migrants
Find Their Way to Equality" in Kaakkois-Suomi district and
a happening in Helsinki against the discrimination of school
children.
FRANCE
Although extreme-right parties
like Front National lost votes in the last elections, racism
is an important problem in France. Especially migrants and ethnic
minorities in the suburbs of the big cities are confronted with
discrimination and do not get the necessary support from the
government.
Many organisations throughout France supported the European-wide
Action Week Against Racism. This made clear, that France has
a strong anti-racist movement.
On 21 March a public gathering took place in Paris for migrant
and foreign women's rights, for equality, for asylum rights,
regularisation of "sans papiers" and against racist
and sexist discrimination. The action was organised by "Tou(te)s
ensemble" ("All Together"), a co-operation of
many organisations.
During the month of education against racism, organised by LICRA
(Ligue Internationale Contre le Racisme et l'Antisémitisme)
in Paris, a wide variety of activities took place: discussions,
lectures, films, theatre and cabaret on different topics such
as resistance, racism and integration, slavery, history of the
Shoa and racism on the internet.
During the "Month of education against racism" in La
Rochelle, round tables, movies, writing-workshops in schools
and universities, an intercultural theatre and other activities
took place.
GEORGIA
The situation for human right
organisations is difficult in Georgia as they have to deal with
corrupt authorities and a semi-dictatorial government. Despite
of this situation organisations in Georgia participate in the
UNITED campaigns. During the European-wide Action Week a training
course against racism was organised in Tbilisi by the International
Centre on Conflict and Negotiation.
GERMANY
 The
German borders to non-EU countries are guarded almost in the
same way as the ancient Iron Curtain. Border guards are given
huge powers to keep out unwanted migrants. Asylum seekers are
put in (semi) closed centres. They are not allowed t0 move outside
a certain area and get almost no cash support but only "in
kind" food packages. As they are also not allowed to work
, they are completly shut out of German society.
While some kinds of racism are combatted with the help of the
state, others are promoted by policies of that same state. And
while the government promotes "Zivilcourage" (civil
courage) it criminalises anti-racism and refugee organisations.
The trial in Berlin against presumed "Rote Zelle-terrorists"
is one example. Harald Glöde and four others have been in
jail up to 15 months until their trial, accused of being members
of a criminal organisation. Their trial started during the European-wide
Action Week Against Racism (more information on http://www.freilassung.de).
Despite of this difficult situation, many activities were organised
during the European-wide Action Week in Germany. On 21 March
the project "School Without Racism" organised an open-air
action day in Hannover with workshops, theatre, cinema and concert,
in Kiel an anti-fascist manifestation in front of the neo-Nazi
"Club 88" took place, other demonstrations were organised
in Erfurt, Berlin and Köln. During the whole week seminars,
hearings and conferences were organised. On 24 March, a neo-nazi
demonstration in Herzogenrath (near the Dutch border) was anticipated
by more than 3000 anti-fascists who demonstrated against right-wing
discourse, racism and the German refugee policy.
GREAT-BRITAIN
 Anti-racist
activities during the European-wide Action Week in Great-Britain
were linked with the forthcoming general elections. On 24 March
the demonstration "Hands Off Asylum Seekers Keep
Racism Out Of the General Election" took place in London.
Many people attended which was reflected in the media attention.
In London the national coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
organised a rally in defence of Asylum Seekers and in Oxford
a demonstration to close down detention centres took place. The
demonstration "Scrap the Vouchers" in Newcastle protested
against the policy of providing asylum seekers with vouchers
instead of cash support.
GREECE
The government in Greece tries
to fight against human trafficking and "illegal migration"
but the goal seems to be to push immigrants out of the country.
These policies only take action against the symptoms of "Fortress
Europe". There is no prospect for a better future for "illegal"
immigrants.
In a press release, published by the Greek Helsinki Monitor on
21 March, the organisation pointed out the "evidently racist
character of the collective expulsions of (mainly Albanian) immigrants."
HUNGARY
Anti-racist organisations all
over Europe are concerned about the ill-treatment of asylum seekers
and migrants at the Hungarian detention centres near the EU-borders.
Amnesty International reported violence and the use of CS-gas
against imprisoned refugees, who attempted to escape.
The detention centres are used to detain refugees on their way
to the EU already before they can cross the borders of "Fortress
Europe". They give a preview of the reality of Hungary as
EU-member-state.
During the European-wide Action Week Against Racism an anti-racist
march towards the Hungarian parliament showed the resistance
against the racist policies of the governments of Hungary and
the EU.
With the distribution of anti-racist leaflets in 10 cities all
over Hungary, a radio announcement and a newspaper publication,
the "Unity Movement Foundation" gave the Action Week
a good public impact.
ICELAND
The European-wide Action Week
was supported by the "Human Rights Organisation of Immigrants
in Iceland". UNITED posters and postcards were distributed
at a "Get-To-Gether", organised in Reykjavik to celebrate
21 March, the International Day Against Racism.
IRELAND
 Since
Ireland is famous as one of the economically growing European
Union countries with many jobs to offer, many people from all
over the world search for a better life there. As Irish society
slowly becomes more multicultural, racism and discrimination
become more apparent. However, there are many organisations in
Ireland that work for tolerance and understanding between the
different cultures in today's Ireland.
The Campus Challenge "Recognising Racism" took
place in universities all over Ireland during the Action Week.
It promoted interculturalism on campus and made students aware
of the problem of racism as it exists in Ireland today. In Cork
the "RAXEN Racism Info Network" was launched and in
Dublin an exhibition on youth work was organised by the Exchange
House Travellers' Youth Service.
The organisation Kerry Action for Development organised an anti-racism
campaign and panel poster displays in libraries all over Ireland.
A night of musical diversity with African, Eastern European,
South American and Irish performers was organised in Dublin,
called "Together - Irish Artists Against Racism"
On 21 March many activities such as manifestations, seminars
and concerts took place in Dublin. And on 22 March a football
tournament between youth groups and a social event for asylum
seekers took place.
ITALY
 On
13 May 2001 the general elections in Italy brought power to a
coalition of right-wing and extreme-right forces. In the weeks
before the election, anti-racist organisations tried to organise
an email-action against Berlusconi. But the election day has
shown, that giving easy solutions, spreading racist slogans and
discriminating migrants and minorities can bring electoral success
in Italy.
Because of this new political situation, the work of anti-racist
and human rights organisations becomes more and more important.
And as many organisations have proven during the Action Week
Against Racism, there is a willingness to combat neo-fascist
forces in Italy.
Many anti-racist activities took place around 21 March in Rieti:
an exhibition of texts and photographs by immigrant children,
presentations in schools, a live radio program with participation
of immigrants and an event at the main square in Rieti with information,
food from different countries, recreation for children and a
world music concert.
In Saronno, the Gruppo della Memoria organised interactive activities.
During the Action Week "The Suitcase of the Rainbow",
an animated tale for children and "All Colours of the World"
a play to promote collaborative roles for children involved the
local community.
In Bologna, the intercultural Film Festival "Human Rights
Nights" was organised by the University of Bologna in co-operation
with Antifascist Youth Action (RUS).
KAZAKHSTAN
For the first time in the history of the European-wide Action
Week Against Racism, activities took place in Kazakhstan. Although
the local organisations have a lack of financial possibilities,
they organised anti-racist actions with good ideas. In Almaty
music events, competitions among students and a pupils essay
took place with the theme "Nationalism in Post-Soviet States".
LATVIA
This year's activities during
the European-wide Action Week were organised by activists of
the Latvian Anti-Fascist Action. The organisation distributed
their own posters and UNITED material in Riga.
LUXEMBOURG
For the 18th time the "Festival
Of Migrants, Cultures and Citizenship" took place in Luxembourg.
In its framework concerts, debates, meetings with writers and
intercultural events like the "Black Night" took place.
The "Festival of Migrants and Cultures in Cinema" preceding
the general festival showed films from different countries and
promoted interculturalism in the cinema.
MALTA
Since years, NGOs in Malta are
participating actively in the European-wide Action Week Against
Racism. The YMCA Valetta published a flyer "Persons Who
Fought Racism" and organised the exhibition "Art, Pictures
and Poetry". A press release to all Maltese media stations
informed them about the European-wide Action Week Against Racism.
The Ecological Foundation ECO organised a national campaign in
schools with local councils, ECO-members and the press in Valetta.
MOLDOVA
The Anti-Racist Week in Moldova
was full of different actions and activities. The Helsinki Citizens'
Assembly organised a media campaign in co-operation with other
organisations, as well as lectures in schools in Chisinau and
they published a comic book, which was spread among young people
in Moldova and abroad. The Juventus Youth Association organised
seminars and meetings in schools and between volunteers in Balti
with the theme "Anti-Racism - What Do We Know About It?"
The Department of National Minorities and the Independent University
of Moldova co-operated for a live concert against racism and
a theatre performance in Chisinau.
NETHERLANDS
 Activities
in the framework of the European-wide Action Week Against Racism
took place in over a dozen cities and enjoyed lively participation.
Activities were co-ordinated by the anti-racist organisation
Nederland Bekent Kleur ("The Netherlands Shows Its True
Colours"). Demonstrations, manifestations, discussions,
concerts, showing of films, visits of schools, workshops and
theatre plays were organised on different anti-racist and refugee
issues.
In Eindhoven the Action Week was titled "When You Travel
Far, You Can Tell Stories" and various activities like
a multicultural youth bus tour, a rap workshop, a discussion
on the subject "Refugees in the Netherlands" and a
multicultural festival brought people from different cultures
together.
In Purmerend the International Day Against Racism was celebrated
with lectures, expositions, movies, music performances, intercultural
dinners and children activities. In the national action "21st
March: More Than a Day - The Colour of Your Heart", anti-discrimination
offices all over the Netherlands distributed anti-racist badges
among politicians and policy makers.
NORWAY
On 21 March 2001 the program "Diversity
and Dialogue" was re-launched with a seminar organised by
the organisation "Norwegian People's Aid". A young
boy of African-Norwegian background was killed in January by
racist murderers. After this incident many people all over Norway
were shocked and the prime minister and others stated, that everybody
has to scrutinise their own prejudices and attitudes.
On 24 March a special action took place before the World Cup
qualifier game between Norway and Poland organised by "Norwegian
People's Aid" together with the Polish organisation "Never
Again Association". All players showed racism the red card
and gave the statement: "We are opponents on the football
pitch, but stand together against racism".
POLAND
 Still
many people in Poland think that racism and fascism are phenomena
that do not exist in Poland. Organisations like "Never Again"
raise awareness about the fact that the violent neo-nazi movement
in Poland is gaining power from year to year. Neo-fascists disturbed
an anti-racist manifestation on 21 March last year by attacking
peaceful demonstrators, but the activities during the Action
Week 2001 took place without incidents.
In Bielsko-Biala a coalition of anti-racist organisations
around the "Klub Gaja" organised demonstrations, lectures,
discussions, and concerts with music from all over the world
(Reggae, Ska, Hip Hop, Hardcore, Punk, Jewish Music, Scottish
Folk) during the whole month of March. Many people attended the
events and the activities had a great impact on the public and
the media.
The organisations Never Again Association and the Anti-Nazi Group
co-operated in the release of an educational video against racism
and organised a lecture with discussion in Warsaw. But the Action
Week was supported in other cities as well: concerts and demonstrations
against racism took place in Chelm, Nowy Sacz and Szczecin.
PORTUGAL
The immigrants and refugees, who
enter Portugal from North Africa have serious problems with their
illegal status. Employers who let refugees and immigrants work
on their farms or building sites have vast possibilities to exploit
them. Although a new law gives the possibility to "legalise"
the immigrants, the situation will not change quickly, as the
system of exploitation responds to a demand of the Portugese
economy and the new law has many deficiencies. During the campaign
"Immigrant Workers, Workers with Rights", the organisation
"Frente Anti-Racista" informed immigrants about the
possibilities and limits of the new immigrant law.
Several more activities took place during the European-wide Action
Week Against Racism in Portugal. The organisation "Atlas-Cooperativa
Cultural" organised a photo-exhibition "Racism Around
the World" and an alphabetising and social insertion course
for foreigners. And on an international conference in a secondary
school in Porto the European-wide Action Week Against Racism
was promoted.
ROMANIA
 The
last elections showed that racism and neo-fascism are big problems
in Romania: Extreme-right and neo-fascist parties gained a lot
of votes - many of them among young people.
That this development hampers the democratisation in Romania
is clear. The reasons seem obvious: besides serious social problems
in the country, that pushed many (especially old) people into
a struggle for survival, a constructive policy towards minorities
like Roma people or gays and lesbians has been non-existent.
Recently more pressure has been put on Romania to work on a better
integration of Roma in society as this has become one of the
conditions to become an EU Member State. This pressure has yet
to provoke effective steps in this direction. Unfortunately the
EU does not put the same emphasis on supporting non-govermental
organisations that could work successfully for a more democratic
society.
A co-operation between "Service Civil International Romania",
the "Students Association for Struggle Against Racism"
and "National Council for Refugees" showed that such
initiatives can contribute a lot to the public awareness about
racism.
Their activities in the framework of the European-wide Action
Week Against Racism included a press conference, concerts with
immigrant and refugee bands, an exhibition and an ethno-fashion
show in several clubs in Bucuresti.
RUSSIA
 Long
before the Russian government tried to control the nation-wide
media openly, it became obvious that the state was contributing
to an atmosphere of distrust and hostility towards minorities.
Criminalisation and discrimination of Caucasians supports the
war in Chechnya and the violent actions and torture in the Russian
prisons. Racist and neo-fascist ideologies thrive in a political
climate in which democracy has not been able to develop any strong
roots.
During the European-wide Action Week Against Racism, Anti-Fascist
Youth Action in Moskva organised a press conference "Racism
in Russia" and in co-operation with the University Russian
films were shown at an anti-racist film festival in Bologna (I).
SLOVAKIA
The
most discriminated minority in Slovakia are the Roma people.
A typical incident happened end of April, when a 30-year-old
man whose darker skin made him reminiscent of a foreigner or
a Roma was killed by three skinheads in Bratislava. The man died
on the spot after being fatally stabbed. A separate skinhead
attack occurred elsewhere in Bratislava shortly before.
Roma people are not represented well enough in the government
and the authorities, so anti-racist and Roma organisations are
the most important forces in society that fight for Roma rights
and promote tolerance and intercultural understanding.
On 21 March the organisation "Together into the Future"
organised a visit of schools and discussions with students on
the topic "Racism and the Roma People" and a multicultural
concert that aimed to develop conditions for the living together
of Roma and non-Roma people without violence and discrimination.
The Slovak Helsinki Committee organised a presentation of Roma
poets, writers, singers, painters, sculptors and a concert in
Bratislava.
The European-wide Action Week Against Racism in Slovakia was
supported by many people this year, as proven by the big demonstration
"March of Tolerance" on 14 March, when many
people gathered in the streets of Bratislava against fascism,
racism, xenophobia, homophobia, nationalism, anti-Semitism and
discrimination.
SWEDEN
More than 2500 asylum seekers
reside "illegally" in Sweden. They have no citizens'
rights, they are discriminated and live in fear of deportation.
The main theme of the activities during the European-wide Action
Week Against Racism was the protest against EU migration and
refugee policies that promote this situation. On 24 March a manifestation
in Stockholm was organised for the right to asylum, against "Fortress
Europe" and the Schengen Treaty.
SWITZERLAND
The organisation "Forum
Tous Différents Tous Egaux" organised a series of
activities around 21
March 2001 in Neuchâtel: A discussion on the theme "A
Passport - What's the Use?", a showing of the Iranian film
'Djomen', a world music concert and a street manifestation with
acrobats, percussion, music and information stand. Many people
took part and the activities received good coverage in the mass-media.
TURKEY
In solidarity with the Kurdish
hunger strikers in Turkish prisons, demonstrations throughout
Europe took place over the last months. Although the Turkish
government promised to work against the human rights violations
in its prisons, non-governmental organisations in Turkey have
not so much hope that the situation will really change after
the international pressure has disappeared again.
The Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants
organised during the European-wide Action Week Against Racism
the seminar "Migration, Racism and Social Services - Work
as a Tool to Cure", an anti-racist exhibition and school
class sessions about racism.
YUGOSLAVIA
Roma people in Yugoslavia are
often victims of racial discrimination and racist violence. The
photo-exhibition "Life of Roma in Montenegro" was opened
on 21 March with a press conference in Tivat. It will be shown
in 20 cities throughout Montenegro within a year and aims to
raise awareness and tolerance for Roma realities. The organisation
for Support of marginal groups "Grupa Margo" completed
an action programme for Roma Rights during the European-wide
Action Week Against Racism including visits to Roma settlements
and statements about human rights.
Other activities took place in Subotica, where the Subotica Postpessimists
opened an anti-racist exhibition and in the Vojvodina region,
where the Backa Topola Anarchopunk Movement distributed UNITED
posters
Up
Order the printed
version (with many pictures and press clippings) of the report
at:
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
|