Amnesty International Slovenia has developed a tool-kit on creating posters against racism.

One of the many superb examples to jump-start discussions about diversity, equality and how prejudices stand in the way of enjoying them:

ECRI – the Council of Europe’s Commission Against Racism and Intolerance – has released its latest Report on Austria. The Commission states among others:

Racism in public discourse remains a worrying issue, in the absence of an adequate response by the authorities. Far-right political parties have openly exploited prejudice against minorities, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, Jews and Muslims and their statements have not been always condemned by mainstream political parties in a sufficiently strong manner. In addition, some media have contributed to creating an atmosphere of hostility against members of minority groups and asylum seekers.

In its previous Report on Austria, the Commission had voiced concern “that the press has contributed to a certain “ethnicisation” of crimes, particularly as regards Black Africans and drug dealing or Eastern Europeans and certain types of organised crime.”

In its latest Report amnesty international Austria discusses the question of structural racism in the Austrian police force and asks: “victim or suspect?” as it documents the frequent correlation of “race” and “police violence.” “Migrants or persons of an ethnic minority are far more easily suspected to have committed a crime than “white” Austrians,” concludes amnesty.

Migranten oder Angehörige ethnischer Minderheiten geraten viel leichter als weiße Österreicher unter Verdacht, Straftaten begangen zu haben. 

The police denies any pattern or other wrongdoing.

The Austrian Federal Association of Psychotherapists (ÖBVP) has issued a strong call against racism in the ongoing election campaign.

The statement decries “racism and exclusion” in the current National Council election. Highlighting that there is no agreed definition and no consensus on the origins of racism, the Association describes racism through the individualization thesis (Individualisierungsthese): 

There is a significant correlation between extreme-right orientation and a primary focus on money, personal advancement and social status. There is an over-identification with achievement and advancement ideologies. 

Highlighting the racist spins that the migration debate currently has in Austria, the Association states that the perceived threat is not the immigrant(s) but the person’s own anxiety to fail or anxiety of inability. “Strength and superiority are the most important norms.” The statement adds: “Racist tendencies coincide with the desire for a white, heterosexual patriarchal society.”

The UN expert body under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism (CERD) recently review Austria’s record. 

The picture that emerges is rather not pretty. Added to the misery of the experts’ findings is the fact that no reports were filed by civil society. Note that most UN bodies, when examining human rights issues in nation states, now accept parallel reports compiled by NGOs or other voices from within civil society. It is a unique opportunity for civil society to reach out to international fora and it is frequently utilized by representatives of other countries.

The concluding observations state among a plethora of scrutiny and pertaining recommendations:

“The Committee is concerned about reported instances of hate speech by politicians, targeting migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, persons of African origin and members of minorities.” 

This would be a violation of Article 4 (c) CERD. 

So: “The Committee recalls that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression carries special duties and responsibilities, including the obligation not to disseminate racist ideas. It recommends that the State party take resolute action to counter any tendency, especially from politicians, to target, stigmatize, stereotype or profile people on the basis of race, colour, descent and national or ethnic origin, or to use racist propaganda in politics.” 

The concluding observations may also be found online.