EP Resolution on the Fight against Racism
26 April 2022
Pingen Kopie Dr. Anna Pingen

On 8 March 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the fight against racism in the media, sports, and schools.

The MEPs proposed stopping EU and state funding for media outlets that competent authorities find to be promoting hate speech and xenophobia - in order to stop the spread of stigmatising narratives that dehumanise members of particular ethnic or racial groups. To increase the penal response to the spread of hate speech, they also proposed that all national audiovisual regulators should be provided with the power to penalise programmes that promote such content.

By insisting on a “zero-tolerance approach” to racism, hate speech, and violence in sports, the MEPs urged the Commission and Member States to adopt effective penalties and to support victims. Athletes who denounce racism or speak out on behalf of diversity need to be protected from retaliation. The Commission must therefore develop guidelines to combat racism in sports at the local, national, and European levels.

With regard to schools, the MEPs called for a revision of education curricula in order to combat bias and eradicate stereotypes that lead to discrimination in today's age. They stressed that racial and ethnic segregation still exists in the education systems of some EU countries and that it needs to be eliminated.

Member States should offer learning programmes to teaching staff, civil servants, and state security forces in order to promote inclusion, combat discrimination, and eliminate racist and xenophobic behaviour at all levels.

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EU Racism and Xenophobia

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