European Commission against Racism and Intolerance Publishes its Reports on Monaco, Estonia, and Denmark

10-06-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

The Council of Europe’s Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published a Report on the 9th of June 2022 regarding its new monitoring in Monaco, Estonia, and Denmark. In each State, the ECRI analysed whether progress had been made since its last Report and if any recommendations were necessary. 

In regard to Monaco, the ECRI noted that progress had been made since its last report in 2015. The State implemented new legislation and measures to promote equality and give the same legal protection to all types of partnerships. Moreover, Monaco offers protection to migrant children, despite their immigration status, and has increased welfare benefits for resident foreign women. However, the ECRI stated that some issues remained of concern. For example, the right of LGBTQI+ persons, the rights of adults who are illegally present in its territory, and the right for foreign nationals to vote in national elections. It is for these reasons that the ECRI’s Report recommended Monaco’s authorities to: 

“pass legislation enshrining action against all forms of discrimination, measures to raise awareness in order to prevent racist and discriminatory treatment, measures in the areas of employment and housing and improved efforts to combat online hate speech”. 

As for Estonia, the ECRI also noted that there had been progress since its last report in 2015. Estonia adopted a ‘bullying-free education’ concept, the social acceptance of LGBTQI+ persons has increased, and a nation-wide campaign on equality and inclusion was carried out. In addition, national resources were heavily invested for the integration of the Russian-speaking population and the beneficiaries of international protection. Although progress has been noticed by the ECRI, some issues remain and the ECRI has made several recommendations to Estonia. One of them being that the “Estonian authorities […] ensure that general anti-discrimination legislation is accessible and effective and to tackle the problem of racist and LGBTI-phobic hate speech”. 

The ECRI’s Report on Denmark welcomes some of the positive developments that have been achieved in the country such as the national action plan against antisemitism and the action plan on LGBTQI+ equality. Nonetheless, the ECRI noted that there remains some concern in regard of the Danish authorities forcing evictions on migrant families in neighbourhoods referred to as “parallel society”. According to the ECRI, such evictions should be avoided as they risk the stigmatisation between “westerners” and “non-westerners”. Moreover, the ECRI called “as a matter of priority” on the Danish authorities to:

“introduce a national action plan against racism, with a particular emphasis on preventing anti-Muslim racism and discrimination. The action plan should include actions in the areas of education, public awareness, promotion of counter speech and the training of relevant professionals, such as law enforcement officials and teachers. Securing staff with Muslim and other minority backgrounds in such professions should also be among the elements of this action plan”. 

Sources and further reading:

Council of Europe. (2022, June 9). Anti-racism commission publishes reports on Denmark, Monaco and Estonia. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved on June 10, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/anti-racism-commission-publishes-reports-on-denmark-monaco-and-estonia

European Commission Against racism and Intolerance. (2022, June 9). Monaco: Council of Europe's anti-racism commission calls for the passing of a law prohibiting all forms of discrimination. Council of Europe. Retrieved on June 10, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/-/monaco-council-of-europe-s-anti-racism-commission-calls-for-the-passing-of-a-law-prohibiting-all-forms-of-discrimination

European Commission Against racism and Intolerance. (2022, June 9). Report on racism and intolerance in Estonia: improve anti-discrimination legislation and combat hate speech. Council of Europe. Retrieved on June 10, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/-/report-on-racism-and-intolerance-in-estonia-improve-anti-discrimination-legislation-and-combat-hate-speech

European Commission Against racism and Intolerance. (2022, June 9). Denmark should address discrimination of Muslims and avoid evictions of families with a migration background in the neighbourhoods referred to as “parallel society”. Council of Europe. Retrieved on June 10, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/-/denmark-should-address-discrimination-of-muslims-and-avoid-evictions-of-families-with-a-migration-background-in-the-neighbourhoods-referred-to-as-para