Universal Periodic Review

Continue efforts made in the framework of combating discrimination and hate speech against foreigners, minorities, and immigrants

Proponent:

Remarks to progress by Liga (last modified Dec 31, 2024):

The 2020 EU Action Plan against Racism calls on the member states to draw up National Action Plans against Racism by the end of 2022. In Austria, the Federal Minister for Women, Family, Integration and Media in the Federal Chancellery is responsible for drawing up the National Action Plan against Racism and Discrimination. This National Action Plan is also anchored in the current government programme (EU Action Plan against Racism 2020: https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/union-equality-eu-anti-racism-action-plan-2020-2025_en). Austria has also referred to the planned National Action Plan against Racism in various other recommendations regarding the implementation and promotion of measures to combat racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. This shows its particular importance. Contrary to this assurance and contrary to the agreement in the last government programme, no national action plan to combat racism was adopted and no significant other programmes in the area of anti-racism work were implemented, with the exception of the area of anti-Semitism.   While there are political strategies against anti-Semitism, there is no comparable approach to anti-Muslim racism. Instead, measures are taken that lead to prejudgements of people perceived as Muslim. The establishment of the Documentation Centre for Political Islam and Operation Luxor reinforce a general suspicion of Muslims and lead to people withdrawing from social discourse, a reduction in diversity of opinion and restrictions on participation. Freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly can be restricted on the basis of membership of a particular group, which has a negative impact on basic democratic principles (Website of the Federal Chancellery – Documentation Centre for Political Islam: https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/bundeskanzleramt/nachrichten-der-bundesregierung/2020/integrationsministerin-raab-dokumentationsstelle-politischer-islam-nimmt-arbeit-auf.html). Austria should step up its efforts to combat discrimination and hate speech against ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees. It is crucial to provide additional resources for the prosecution of hate crimes while strengthening prevention. This applies in particular to combating discrimination against Muslims, Roma, people of African descent, refugees and migrants. The promotion of awareness campaigns and cooperation with civil society organisations are important elements in promoting an inclusive and tolerant society.   In recent years, there has been a tightening of immigration policy in Austria and an increasing harshness towards asylum seekers. This is reflected in legislative changes aimed at making access to asylum more difficult and facilitating the deportation of rejected asylum seekers. Another problem is the treatment of asylum seekers during the asylum procedure and in reception centres. There are currently reports of overcrowded accommodation, inadequate medical care and a lack of integration into the education system.  In 2021, funding for ethnic groups in Austria was significantly increased, with funding now totalling almost 8 million euros. New laws were also adopted to combat hate speech on the internet and violent hate crimes (ACFC/OP/V(2023)002, 5th Review Report of the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe: https://rm.coe.int/5th-op-austria-de-full-version/1680ace87b). Nevertheless, challenges remain, particularly in the area of minority language teaching and with regard to mutual respect and intercultural dialogue in society. In Austria, the Framework Convention is implemented and monitored by a dialogue platform in which government representatives, civil society organisations and experts from science and research work together. This dialogue process is crucial for compliance with the provisions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (further information on the website of the Federal Chancellery: https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/themen/volksgruppen/roma-strategie.html).  Austria has launched programmes and initiatives to promote tolerance and integration. Nevertheless, reports of discrimination and hate speech continue to emerge, suggesting that further action is needed to address these issues. There is a need for continuous monitoring and improvement to ensure that efforts to combat hate speech and discrimination are effective and that the communities affected are sufficiently protected.