March 15, 2015

"Providing a safe space"

tags:	#Anti-discrimination, #Anti-racism, #ENAR, #European Network Against Racism
by:	Deniz Zehra Tavli

Millions of people in Europe face specific forms of racism - anti-Gyspsyism, Afrophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and xenophobia - which hamper their inclusion perspectives and opportunities in life. These forms of racism have also been shaped by Europe’s history of colonial abuse and repeated persecutions against minorities. EU laws against racism and discrimination already exist but racism and its specific forms continue to be prevalent, ranging from very brutal acts of violence or harassment to extremely sophisticated forms of discrimination, instrumentalising Fundamental Rights to exclude minorities.

The European Network Against Racism, short ENAR, is the only pan-European anti-racist network that combines advocacy for racial equality and facilitating cooperation among civil society anti-racist actors in Europe. The organisation was set up in 1998 by grassroots activists on a mission to achieve legal changes at European level and make decisive progress towards racial equality in all EU Member States. Since then, ENAR has grown and achieved a great deal.

One can contribute to the work of ENAR by joining them as an organisation with focus on anti-racism and anti-discrimination, volunteer for them or make a donation.