24 April 1997       Doc. 7814

ADOC7814

WRITTEN DECLARATION No. 256

on the resurgence of racism and intolerance

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly,

1.       Recalling the Declaration and the Plan of Action adopted at the Council of Europe Vienna Summit in October 1993 and Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1275 (1995) on racism, xenophobia, anti-semitism and intolerance;

2.       Deeply concerned that despite continuing efforts, contemporary forms of racism and intolerance persist;

3.       Observing that the statements of some politicians tend to exploit cultural and religious differences, thus contributing to the rise of racism;

4.       Convinced of the need to take effective measures within the Council of Europe to counter all forms of racism and intolerance;

5.       Call upon the Assembly to support all efforts aimed at eliminating all forms of racism and intolerance particularly with a view to recommending that the Committee of Ministers adopt a legal instrument for combating racism and intolerance, and invite all member states:

      - to co-operate to prevent organised acts of racism;

      - to consider penalising incitement to discriminatory acts based upon racial hatred and racial violence;

      - to give priority to education and to create awareness in their societies particularly among young people and law enforcement personnel for promoting tolerance and respect for cultural diversity;

      - to take measures, wherever possible, to provide assistance and rehabilitation to victims of acts of racism and intolerance.

Signed: 1

Aguiar, Portugal, EPP

Akçali, Turkey, EDG

Ayrim, Turkey, EPP

Aytaman, Turkey, EDG

Berg, Norway, EDG

Billing, Sweden, EDG

Brasseur, Luxemburg, LDR

Cem, Turkey, SOC

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Columberg, Switzerland, EPP

Diaz de Mera, Spain, EPP

Dinçer, Turkey, SOC

Gjellerod, Denmark, SOC

Guirado, Spain, SOC

Gusenbauer, Austria, SOC

Gürel, Turkey, SOC

Hagard, Sweden, EDG

Hardy, United Kingdom, SOC

Hooper, United Kingdom, EDG

Johansson, Sweden, SOC

Karlsson, Austria, SOC

Kiratlioglu, Turkey, EPP

Korakas, Greece, UEL

Külahli, Turkey, EDG

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Nastase, Romania, SOC

Pollo, Albania, EPP

Prusi, the former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia, EDG

Ramirez Pery, Spain, EPP

Schieder, Austria, SOC

Seitlinger, France, EPP

Sinka, Latvia, SOC

Sungur, Turkey, EDG

Tanik, Turkey, EDG

Yürür, Turkey, EDG

Zhebrovsky, Russia, NR___________

Total = 36

1 ¹       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left