Council of Europe: Ukrainians are treated better than other war refugees

Council of Europe: Ukrainians are treated better than other war refugees

Enlarge

By Catarina Demony

(Reuters) – Ukrainians who fled their homeland due to the Russian invasion are being treated better than those displaced by other ongoing wars and emergencies, Europe’s main human rights group said on Thursday, calling on member states to support all equally.

The Council of Europe’s Commission on Anti-Racism (ECRI) said in its annual report that “admirable efforts” have been made to support Ukrainians since the war began in February 2022.

However, it was said that the treatment of people from Ukraine varies depending on their ethnicity.

For example, housing conditions for Roma with Ukrainian citizenship are of lower quality than those for other Ukrainians in the same situation, ECRI explained.

Shortly after the war broke out, the African Union expressed concern about reports that African citizens in Ukraine were being denied the right to cross the border safely.

In addition, there are significant differences between the quality of reception centres and the care provided to Ukrainians and that of refugees and asylum seekers from other countries, ECRI added.

“The new normal should be to welcome all people from everywhere in the same way that Ukrainians have been welcomed,” Johan Friestedt, ECRI’s Executive Secretary, said at a press conference.

When asked whether there was more solidarity with Ukrainians because the majority was white, ECRI President Bertil Cottier said: “When people are more or less like you, it is always easier.”

According to ECRI, all displaced persons should be offered appropriate protection and assistance regardless of their nationality, colour or religion.

According to ECRI, while anti-Ukrainian hate incidents were reported, overall public discourse remained one of solidarity and support, and hostile narratives, including by politicians, against people from other parts of the world were more prevalent.

There are around six million displaced Ukrainians throughout Europe.

The report also said that the number of hate incidents against Muslims increased following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.

“The attack was blamed on Muslims… based on stereotypes of entire communities and their perceived association with the use of violence,” ECRI said.

There has also been a rise in anti-Semitism in several European countries, ranging from hate speech, including death threats, to vandalism of Jewish sites and physical attacks on Jews.

“While criticism of Israel cannot be considered anti-Semitic per se, calling for the murder of Jews is,” ECRI said.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Barbara Lewis)