Fifth Report on the United Kingdom

Alongside several positive developments, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) highlighted a number of areas of concern in this report on the United Kingdom.

ECRI welcomed, among other things, the entry into force of the Equality Act 2010 and the generally strong legislation against racism and racial discrimination in the country, as well as the government’s new hate crime action plan and substantial efforts to promote LGBT rights in the UK which have led to a significant change in attitudes.

At the same time, the commission noted considerable intolerant political discourse in the UK, particularly focusing on immigration. It said that hate speech continues to be a serious problem in tabloid newspapers, and that online hate speech targeting Muslims in particular has soared since 2013.

ECRI also noted a particularly high number of violent racist incidents in 2013, including a sharp rise in anti-Muslim violence, as well as record levels of anti-Semitic incidents the following year.

EurActiv, 04.10.16: Council of Europe: Brexit campaign fuelled ‘anti-foreigner’ feeling in Britain http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/council-of-europe-brexit-campaign-fuelled-anti-foreigner-feeling-in-britain/

Council of Europe: Press Release, 04.10.16: Anti-racism experts highlight increasing hate speech and racist violence in the UK http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Library/PressReleases/GBR-PR-V-2016-226-EN.asp

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