EU legislation needed to fight racism

11.26.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Mar 2007

On today's (21st March) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, London's Liberal Democrat MEP and vice-chair of the European Parliament's anti-racism and diversity 'intergroup' Baroness Sarah Ludford is calling on member state governments to urgently step up progress on an EU measure to outlaw incitement to racial hatred.

According to new figures by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency, over nine million people in 18 EU countries surveyed experienced racist crime in 2004 while racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded in England and Wales between April 2004 and March 2005 stood at 37,028 - 2,032 more than the previous year.

Baroness Ludford commented:

"Promoting inclusion and stopping discrimination make up the bedrock of European values. It is shameful that as we approach the 50th anniversary of the European Union, racism, discrimination, harassment and disadvantage are a daily feature of life for all too many individuals."

"While violence on the grounds of race and religion has continued to grow, EU legislation to combat race and religious hate crime has been stuck in the Council for the last five years. Governments must stop stalling!"

"It is difficult to explain to my constituents why EU legislation can protect them from discrimination in the workplace, but offers no such protection if they are physically or verbally attacked because of their beliefs or the way they look."