|
|
8 February 1993
Doc. 6766
. Revised
1403-4/2/93-10-E
MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION
on the fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance
presented by Mr THORESEN and others
1. The Assembly is shocked and deeply concerned about the resurgence of racism, xenophobia and intolerance in Europe. These developments run counter to the very foundation and spirit of the Council of Europe.
2. The Assembly strongly condemns the acts of violence committed against foreigners and migrant workers, and calls for immediate action at the European as well as the national level to counteract racism.
3. The Assembly believes that mobilisation of the young generation, their commitment to peaceful co-existence, democracy and the rule of law, will be crucial for halting the negative trends and building a coalition for tolerance and dignity in Europe.
4. Racism must be addressed through a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach. This calls for intergovernmental co-operation and concerted action. Recalling the Committee of Ministers' declaration regarding tolerance - A threat to democracy 1981 (68) - and making reference to the motion for a resolution presented by Mr Güner and others concerning racism (Doc. 6687), the Assembly wants the Council of Europe to be a front-runner in the fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance.
5. The Assembly supports the proposal made by Mrs Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway to make the fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance and a plan of action for this purpose a main theme for the Summit of the Council of Europe in Vienna (8-9 October 1993). It likewise supports the idea of making a European youth campaign an important and integral part of such a plan of action.
6. With the aim of contributing to the preparations of a European plan of action against racism, the Assembly will direct its committees to look into the subject and prepare for a debate of their observations and suggestions at the Assembly's next part-session. It will further suggest that the proposal for such a plan of action becomes the main theme for the fourth round table meeting between parliamentarians and representatives of youth organisations in Strasbourg (2-3 July 1993).
7. Consequently, the Assembly recommends to the Committee of Ministers:
i. to make the fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance and plan of action for this purpose a main theme for the Summit of the Council of Europe in Vienna (8-9 October 1993);
ii. to include a European youth campaign as an important and integral part of such a plan of action;
iii. to inform the Assembly about the preparations for a European plan of action against racism at its next part-session.
Signed: Thoresen, Willoch, Gusenbauer, Koritzinsky, Haarstad, Berg, Skaug, Gjørv, Nybakk, Bondevik, Gundersen, Schieder, Masseret, Guirado, Cucó, J. Thompson, Bokov, Stoilov, Graenitz, Gunnarsson, Guenov, Hacklin, Redmond, Haller, Hardy, Martinez, Stoffelen, Halonen, Pirinski, Baarveld-Schlaman, Franck, de Puig, Err, Cox, Tummers, Havik, Hjelm-Wallen, Cunliffe, Ruffy, Cummings, Blunck, Hellström, Holtz, Nunez, Rokofyllos, Marques, Aguiar, Rodrigues, Curto, Pinto, Brito, Lentz-Cornette, Espersen, Thoft, Schmidt, Hansen, Albrink, Arnalds, G. Bjarnason, Astgeirsdottir, B. Bjarnason, Ragnarsdottir, Cimoszewicz, Malachowski, Iwinski, Seeuws, Maruflu, Güner, Kiliç, Kiratlioglu, Gül, Talay, Jansson, Laakso, Ryynänen, Tiuri, Anttila, Rehn, Granstedt, Tarschys, Persson, Haglund, Frias, Hawlicek, Fleetwood, Vassiliades, Efraimoglou, Finsberg, Reddemann.