OSCE/ODIHR make joint statement on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21.04.2011 STRASBOURG, VIENNA, WARSAW 21 March 2011 – In a joint statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Nils Muiznieks, Chair of the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI); Morten Kjaerum, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA); and Janez Lenarčič, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), strongly condemned manifestations of racism and related intolerance.http://www.osce.org/odihr/76174
European Commission calls on Member States to set national strategies for Roma integration
21.04.2011 Europe's 10-12 million Roma continue to face discrimination, exclusion and the denial of their rights, while governments lose out on increased revenue and productivity because potential talent could go wasted. Better economic and social integration is an imperative – but to be effective, concerted action is needed at all levels to address the multiple causes of exclusion. The European Commission is therefore today putting forward a European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. This EU Framework will help guide national Roma policies and mobilise funds available at EU level to support inclusion efforts.www.bewnet.eu/media/dokumente2/pdf/EU-Agenda-for-the-integration-of-immigrant-to-2010.pdf
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/400&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr
EWL welcomes EP demand for an EU strategy on violence against women
21.04.2011 On the 5th of April, the European Parliament today adopted the report on ‘priorities and outline of a new EU policy framework to fight violence against women’, drafted by MEP Eva-Britt Svensson. The EWL (European Women’s Lobby) warmly welcomes this vote, which demonstrates the common concerns of the members of the European Parliament to combat this pervasive human rights violation. The report is a very strong political document which highlights the need for an EU action against all forms of violence against women, including prostitution. http://www.womenlobby.org/spip.php?article1441&lang=enHighs winds leave migrants stranded on Lampedusa
21.04.2011 High winds blocked ferries from taking migrants away Saturday from a tiny Italian island in the Mediterranean, frustrating the mostly Tunisian refugees who have been protesting about a lack of food, water and shelter. About 3,500 Tunisians, many whom have been sleeping for days on the dockside, were waiting on Lampedusa, an island between Sicily and Tunisia, to be transferred to holding centers on the Italian mainland. In early evening, "despite strong winds and adverse sea conditions," an Italian naval ship, the San Marco, was transferring 500 migrants to a holding center near Naples, the premier's office said.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hNQVXh6nRb_084px0KemYIvc78gA?docId=6eb871ee047046799d456c0481e39a80
France: Interior Minister wants to ’reduce legal immigration’
21.04.2011 In an interview to be published in Le Figaro on Friday 8 April, Interior Minister Claude Guéant explains that he has 'asked for the number of people given permits to work in France (20,000 per year) to be reduced. (...) We will continue to reduce the number of foreigners coming to France under family reunion rules (15,000 per year)', he continues, stating that he has requested that a 'study into the practice of European countries with regard to the application of international law' be carried out.http://ec.europa.eu/ewsi/en/news/newsdetail.cfm?ID_ITEMS=19737
