[WCAR] Council of Europe calls for fair and balanced coverage of migrant issues in the media

***Learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination 21 March 2007:
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/id-against-racism.php


Strasbourg, 20.03.2007 -- To mark the International Day for the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) President René van der Linden today
made the following statement:

"Europe represents, for millions of people from around the world seeking a
better life for themselves and their families, a land of human rights,
values and opportunities. Yet for many the reality is instead harassment
from authorities desperate to send them home, discrimination in the work
place and xenophobia and intolerance from local populations.

Our Assembly recently debated the image of asylum seekers, migrants and
refugees in the media and called on European governments to pay particular
attention to the legislation impacting on racism and intolerance in the
media and to promote the production of films dealing with issues relevant
to migrants and produced by persons coming from these groups.

In the combat against populism, hostility and fear, the media plays an
essential role in ensuring that issues linked to migration, refugees and
asylum are portrayed in a fair and balanced way. It is therefore the
media's responsibility to also reflect the positive contribution to
society made by these persons, and to protect them from negative
stereotyping.

Our governments should adopt and implement legislation prohibiting
incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination where this is lacking,
and enforce such legislation where it exists. Also, the media should
refrain from revealing the ethnic origin or nationality of migrants when
arrested or convicted of crimes where such information is irrelevant.

In the years to come, Europe will need greater numbers of migrants to fill
empty jobs and counterbalance declining fertility rates. The fight against
racism, discrimination and every form of intolerance requires the constant
vigilance of the Council of Europe and its Assembly. And the media,
supported by member states, play an essential role in this fight."






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