Addressing the challenges posed by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, addressing continued discrimination - despite certain progress - of LGBTI persons, Roma and Travellers, as well as the need for supporting civil society actors were the main thematic clusters of issues European governments and the society were confronted with over the past year, said European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its annual report for 2022 published today.
The war of aggression launched by Russia (*) against Ukraine was preceded and still is accompanied by an ultra-nationalist discourse and propaganda. Russian leaders' false narrative, from the highest political level, describing the democratically elected Ukrainian government and Ukrainians who did not consider themselves "pro-Russian" as Neo-Nazis was absurd, nauseating and an affront to the memory of the millions of victims of Nazism, ECRI says.
The migration flows from Ukraine as a result of the war, of the scale not seen since WWII, have posed unprecedented challenges to European states and societies. "Despite the overall commendable manner in which receiving countries catered for people fleeing Ukraine, the terms of protection varied depending on the citizenship of those fleeing", ECRI report says. Unequal treatment was reported vis-à-vis non-Ukrainians, such as people coming from Asian or African countries, at Ukrainian borders, as well as in receiving countries, with terms of protection appearing to be "of a far lower standard". Besides, unequal treatment linked to ethnicity, for instance of Roma with Ukrainian citizenship, was observed. ECRI reiterates its expectation that any such reports will be effectively investigated. ECRI commends the authorities, equality bodies and civil society across Europe on their solidarity and stresses that such solidarity should remain "the new normal" in the management of current and future humanitarian crises.
Russia's war against Ukraine has also led to hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens leaving Russia and settling in the Council of Europe member states for which they did not need entry visas. ECRI welcomes the fact that host country authorities and equality bodies have acted promptly to disperse the initial expressions of hostility and any related hate speech, but stresses that extra vigilance is required in this area.
Press release
Consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine, mixed picture with LGBTI persons' rights, antigypsyism and shrinking space for civil society - Council of Europe anti-racism body presented key trends in Europe in 2022
