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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- June 20, 2024 09:01
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Ukrainians who fled their homes to escape Russian occupation have received better treatment than those displaced by ongoing wars and emergencies, Europe's top human rights group said on Thursday, called on member countries to support everyone equally.
In its annual report, the Council of Europe's anti-racism commission (ECRI) said "admirable efforts" have been made to support Ukrainians since the war began in February 2022.
But according to the commission, the treatment of people from Ukraine had varied depending on their ethnicity.
For example, the accommodation conditions offered to Roma with Ukrainian citizenship were better than those offered to other Ukrainians in the same situation, according to ECRI, Reuters reports.
Shortly after the start of the war, the African Union said it was concerned by reports that African citizens in Ukraine had been denied the right to cross borders.
Significant differences were also noted between the quality of reception centers and services provided to Ukrainians, compared to refugees and asylum seekers from other countries, ECRI added.
"The new normal must be to welcome all people from everywhere as the Ukrainians were welcomed," Johan Friestedt, ECRI's executive secretary, said at a press conference.
Asked if he had more solidarity with Ukrainians because most were white, ECRI president Bertil Cottier said "when people are more or less like you, it's always easier".
ECRI has said that all displaced persons, regardless of their nationality, skin color or religion, should be offered adequate protection and support.
According to ECRI, incidents of anti-Ukrainian hatred were also reported, but overall, the public discourse remained one of solidarity and support, while hostile narratives, including from politicians, were more prevalent against people from other parts of the world.
About 6 million Ukrainians are displaced across Europe.
The report also says that the number of anti-Muslim hate incidents has increased since the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
Some European countries have also experienced an increase in anti-Semitism, from hate speech, including death threats, and acts of vandalism of Jewish sites, to physical attacks against Jews.
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