My work - Anti-racism and Citizens' Rights

Anti-racism and Citizens' Rights

The European Union has been active for many years in the fight against racism. This was seen most recently in the 2003 legislation introduced across Europe to combat discrimination. The EU has also provided funding for groups to work together and for new initiatives for tackling this scourge. A European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia has been established in Vienna to provide a better understanding of the scale of the problem. The European Year Against Racism was celebrated in 1997, with the EU funding many transnational projects through the initiative. This acted as a catalyst for organisations across Europe to develop links and organise events around the theme. During the year I produced a Charter Against Racism, which I sent to hundreds of local businesses and organisations, later published with the signatories.

I am an active supporter of the Show Racism the Red Card charity. I have visited many schools to promote the charity's video on racism in sport, discussing this issue with pupils. In September 2000, I hosted the launch of the new video in the European Parliament, Brussels, which footballer John Barnes attended. It is clear that we must strive to tackle this problem together, as it is one that affects all countries.

From 1999-2004, I was vice-chair of the Committee on Citizens' Rights and Freedoms, Justice and Home Affairs. The Committee was very active in matters of race and equality and had an increasing role in policy areas such as asylum and immigration. I was responsible for a major report on creating a Common Asylum Policy and another on combating the Trade in Human Organs. I also support citizens' rights in a wider sense and work closely with Amnesty International, Fair Trials Abroad, the Refugee Council and many other organisations.

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