Many voices with one message

Date: 16/01/1997

Saskia Daru makes a heartfelt plea for greater cooperation at an international level, stressing the need for a united front in the fight against racism.

MOVING from a smaller city in the Netherlands to Amsterdam in 1989, I had the feeling of finally being able to breathe.

In Amsterdam, there were so many different kinds of people, different colours, different cultures, different styles, that I thought I had discovered tolerance incarnate, a city where I and anybody else could be my own self.

After several years in Amsterdam, I know that this fairy tale, like any fairy tale, disappears when you try to hold on to it. Racism is no stranger to Amsterdam, or to any other place in Europe for that matter.

EU leaders are not without their own prejudices and when they confer in the Dutch national bank in Amsterdam at their June 1997 summit, those prejudices will inevitably influence their discussions.

Fortunately, the anti-racist movement will also be present. Close to the bank, a conference hall has been booked where 300 delegates of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will come together to 'Speak out against racism!'

UNITED for Intercultural Action, the anti-racist network, will provide a mouthpiece for the voices of those who have something important to say on the subject, especially the victims of racial abuse.

When racist parties sprung into life in the Eighties, most politicians reacted with indignation to their proposals to close the borders even to refugees, to deport people via special charter flights and to arrange a 'humane' return policy for foreigners. Now those groups have had to invent new policies as some mainstream parties have taken over their original ideas.

Since 1984, there have been extreme-right parties in the European Parliament. Between 1989 and 1994, there was even an extreme-right political group.

But fighting racism does not only mean fighting these political parties and their affiliated organisations. Everyday discrimination, police violence, the closing of minds and borders these things are touching the lives of many people in Europe in a worse way than racist and fascist parties are.

On an international level, sometimes the measures that are not taken prove the most racist; measures that should be in place to protect all those residing in the European Union.

In 1992, when UNITED for Intercultural Action was launched, it was still very difficult to cooperate on an international level against racism. Most groups active in this field were used to dealing only with organisations with the same political affiliations, the same working methods and the same cultural backgrounds.

This way of cooperating may be the most comfortable, but it is far from enough. Activists can learn so much from each other when cooperating on an international level firstly, of course, from each other's experiences in the field. It has always helped me to hear from others how they tackle problems, varying from handling incoming post to dealing with a fascist band playing in a town youth centre.

Secondly, we need each other for the information we can exchange on laws, on extreme-right groups and on the situation of minorities in different countries. To fight racism, knowledge is the main requirement. The third reason why we should cooperate is, of course, to lobby policy-makers, parliaments and governments.

Not all organisations which fight racism are willing or able to work together on everything but most are prepared to cooperate on selected activities or topics.

A precondition for such cooperation is mutual respect. Anyone fighting intolerance should be able to have respect for others who do the same thing, while using different methods.

Inside the UNITED network, various organisations work together voluntarily. They cooperate when they think projects are important for them. The network is only a support system which provides basic tools to make cooperation possible and simpler. Organisations inside the network remain completely independent.

1997 has been declared the European Year Against Racism. During this year, national coordination committees will set up a campaign aimed at the general public. The role of NGOs on a national level will be largely dependent on the goodwill of the ministries running the campaign. On a European level, only a consultative role is foreseen for NGOs.

In some ways, this campaign is a weaker successor to the Council of Europe's 'All different, all equal' campaign. But both campaigns are, and have been, test cases for cooperation between governments and NGOs at both national and European level. Although one should have respect for the methods of others when fighting racism, the question is whether such respect should be given to those institutions which issue laws limiting the opportunities of migrants and refugees, and which result in inhumane detention for 'illegals'.

Is this year a genuine effort to diminish racism and discrimination, or is it merely hypocrisy and disguise? Or could it possibly be both?

Those working inside governmental structures and trying to improve the situation for minorities 'on the inside' will agree that the last thing they need are docile, tamed NGOs.

Governments and political institutions will not move until they are pushed and pulled and pressurised.

The role of NGOs can never be merely to carry out governmental policy. They need to open their mouths, voice their opinions and make their experiences known.

During the European Year Against Racism, NGOs should not stand at the side of the road with little banners and cheer the parade. They should inform themselves and make up their own minds on how far to contribute to the year and how far to gain from it because there will be opportunities to gain from it. Not only will the topic of racism be on the agendas of the heads of state and their governments, but there might also be a chance to gain support for existing projects.

This year could be the one in which a lot of decisions affecting refugees and migrants are moved to the 'communitarised' first pillar of the Maastricht Treaty. That would mean that European rules in this field would be harmonised. This would definitely make the situation a lot clearer.

At the moment, migrants and refugees are often confused by the number of varying and apparently conflicting rules within countries, let alone by the different rules in different countries.

But these inconsistencies are sometimes also the saviour of those fortunate enough to slip between the rules.

When international rulings mean that legislation, or a 'regularisation' as was decreed in Portugal last year (when an amnesty was declared for people staying illegally in the country for a prolonged period of time), can no longer take place, I am not sure that we should demand them so vehemently.

Union rules and regulations should not mean that we stick to the standards of the most xenophobic of the governments of the member states either.

When the Amsterdam summit takes place, Europe will show its behind, not its face. The heads of state will face inward, not outward to the people. The influence of normal citizens is minimised in every way possible: by secrecy and by not allowing the European Parliament to make co-decisions.

Outside the summit, there will be activists from all over Europe lobbying on a score of topics, protesting and voicing their concerns. The UNITED conference will be part of this meeting of activists.

Hopefully, we will be able to make it clear that racism cannot be fought by just educating the public at large. Racism also means 'Fortress Europe' everyday racism and institutional racism. Such topics will be the backbone of the assembly.

During the conference, activists and politicians will listen to experts from grass-roots organisations, political parties and every level in between. These experts will tell of their experiences, both of racism in its many forms and of ways to combat it. Again, UNITED tries to provide a forum for differences: in methods, backgrounds and experiences.

When I now walk through Amsterdam, I no longer see a fairy tale, tolerant city. But I do see opportunity and chances.

As NGOs, we should never stop tugging at the sleeves of the politicians, sometimes even pulling at the rug under their feet. When we have a chance to be heard, we should grab it, but should do so without altering our message.

Saskia Daru is a project worker at the secretariat of UNITED for Intercultural Action. UNITED comprises a network of organisations active in the fields of anti-nationalism, anti-racism, anti-fascism and the support of refugees and migrants.