A resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers states: “Despite steps taken by the authorities, the number of racially-motivated offences remains alarming, targeting in particular persons originating from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Asia and Africa, as well as Roma.”
Less than one percent of Ireland’s Traveller community are in higher education and its school drop-out rate is several times higher than the national average, according to a report published today.
The authors of the report from the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities also confirmed today that they want the country’s authorities to increase training of police to combat racism and discrimination.
The Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is keen to highlight the issue, due to the importance of language in “matters of participation,” its role “in promoting full and effective equality” and “as a strong marker of identity,” according to the committee’s new chair Athanasia Spiliopoulou Åkermark.
A report on the Russian Federation from the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities expresses concern that “some minorities continue to face widespread discrimination in areas such as access to employment and housing as hostility against ‘non-Slavs’ is exhibited with increasing openness and sometimes fuelled by politicians.”
