Anti-Black racism rising in EU nations led by Germany, study finds

• Anti-Black racism rising in EU nations led by Germany.
• The FRA report includes a series of recommendations for EU member states.
• Michael O’Flaherty expressed shock at the lack of improvement.

A survey of first- and second-generation Black immigrants in 13 EU countries has revealed an alarming rise in racism towards Black people in Europe, with Germany, Austria, and Finland reporting the highest rates of discrimination and harassment.

This survey, commissioned by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and presented in a report, indicates a significant increase in the proportion of respondents who have experienced racial discrimination in the past 12 months.

The percentage of respondents who reported feeling racially discriminated against over the past year increased by 10 points, reaching 34% in just six years since the previous study.

This proportion was particularly concerning in Austria and Germany at 64%, which is almost double the previous level in Germany and a substantial increase from the 42% recorded in Austria six years earlier. Finland followed closely with 54%.

FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty expressed shock at the lack of improvement since the last survey, emphasizing that individuals of African descent are facing increased discrimination solely due to the color of their skin.

The percentage of respondents who felt racially discriminated against over the past five years, rather than just 12 months, also rose to 45% across the 13 surveyed countries, marking a six-point increase from the previous study.

The top three countries with the highest rates of discrimination remained the same, with Germany reporting the highest rate at 76%.

The comprehensive survey, conducted by Ipsos for the FRA, involved 16,124 immigrants and their descendants across 15 countries and covered various ethnic minorities and Muslims.

The survey was carried out between October 2021 and September 2022.

The initial report from this broader survey, titled “Being Black in the EU,” focuses on 6,752 individuals born in sub-Saharan Africa or with at least one parent from that region residing in 13 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

Germany had the highest national rate at 54%, closely followed by Finland and Austria while the proportion of respondents reporting racist harassment over the past five years remained unchanged from six years earlier at 30%.

According to the survey participants, Portugal and Sweden reported the lowest rates of harassment, and along with Poland, they also had the lowest rates of racial discrimination in contrast.

The FRA report includes a series of recommendations for EU member states, urging them to effectively enforce anti-discrimination legislation and consider racial bias as an aggravating factor when determining penalties for crimes.

To stay informed about current events, please like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BOLUrduNews/.

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/bolnewsurdu01 and stay updated with the latest news.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel https://bit.ly/3Tv8a3P to watch news from Pakistan and around the world.

Also Read

Xi Jinping claims China plans to work with US to resolve disputes

Xi Jinping claims China plans to work with the US to resolve...