A strategy to prevent racism and intolerance in Europe

Recommendation 2032 (2014)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 28 January 2014 (4th Sitting) (see Doc. 13385, report of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, rapporteur: Mr Jonas Gunnarsson). Text adopted by the Assembly on 28 January 2014 (4th Sitting).

1. Recalling its Resolution 1967 (2014) on a strategy to prevent racism and intolerance in Europe and Resolution 1968 (2014) on tackling racism in the police, the Parliamentary Assembly expresses deep concern at the upsurge of racism, hatred and intolerance in Europe and the dimension, gravity and frequency of their manifestations.

2. Considering that racism, hatred and intolerance run counter to the Council of Europe’s most fundamental values, no effort should be spared to assist member States in preventing and combating this scourge. The Assembly acknowledges that, through a wide range of institutions, committees and structures, the Council of Europe is already making a major contribution in this area. However, it calls for a more strategic approach to be taken, with a view to increasing impact.

3. The Assembly therefore asks the Committee of Ministers to instruct the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to draw up a strategy against racism, hatred and intolerance in Europe as well as an action plan to implement it:

3.1 The strategy and the action plan should be of a limited duration, pull together the existing Council of Europe activities and expertise in the area, involve the entire Organisation and be implemented in co-operation with national authorities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and other partners.

3.2 The strategy and the action plan should put an emphasis on prevention while strengthening the legal framework and its effective implementation, and include at least the following:

3.2.1 campaigning and awareness-raising activities for the general public, also by expanding and strengthening the No Hate Speech Movement;

3.2.2 stepping up human rights education and designing school curricula to prevent racism, hatred and intolerance and promote respect for equality and diversity;

3.2.3 preparing online and distance-learning tools on preventing and combating racism, hatred and intolerance for police and other law-enforcement officials;

3.2.4 strengthening the legal framework of Council of Europe member States, providing legal advice and expertise and promoting the ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems (ETS No. 189);

3.2.5 ensuring that the recommendations of existing monitoring mechanisms on racism, hatred and intolerance are followed up.