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Human rights group urges EU to tackle Afrophobia

BRUSSELS, Nov 23 (KUNA) -- The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) called Thursday on EU Member States to finally take action to combat Afrophobia - the specific racism people of African descent face - in Europe.
There are an estimated 15 million people of African descent and Black Europeans in Europe and they are particularly affected by racism and discrimination in employment, education, housing, and other areas, said ENAR in a press release.
Black people are also particularly exposed to racist violence, as well as discriminatory policing and ethnic profiling.
In Sweden, 17 percent of hate crimes targeted Black people in 2014 (1,075 in total). In Paris, France, people perceived as 'Black' were overall six times more likely to be stopped by police than White people.
Despite these persistent levels of Afrophobia, European Union Member States are failing to recognise and address this specific form of racism, it said.
The ENAR reaction coincides with the United Nations Regional Meeting on the International Decade for People of African Descent today and tomorrow.
ENAR Chair Amel Yacef said: "Given the scale of racism and discrimination faced by Black people in Europe, it is shocking that so little has been done so far to end this situation. As United Nations members, EU Member States have committed to ensuring Black people enjoy rights to equal treatment and non-discrimination." Brussels-based ENAR groups local and national anti-racist NGOs throughout Europe and voices the concerns of ethnic and religious minorities in European and national policy debates. (end) nk.ibi