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Italy/Europe: Lawyers against racism and fascism

01 March 2001

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A meeting to establish a network of European lawyers working in the field of foreigners' rights was held in Rome by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the Centre for the Research and Development of Democracy on 17-18 February 2001. “Lawyers, social scientists and activists engaged in the struggle against racism and fascism” participated, adopting a final resolution which highlighted the continuing threat of racism and its resurgence, with fascist connotations. They expressed concern at the relationship between these phenomena and economic globalisation, and called upon democratic lawyers to combat racism and fascism, proposing that “a regional network of lawyers committed to the defence of migrants facing racist attacks” be established. Practices in detention centres were condemned as “contrary to the principles of international law on human rights”, and the need for effective anti-racist legislation to be adopted and enacted was stressed. The “Manifesto of European Lawyers for Equality” announced the setting up of the network and highlighted faults in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights resulting in “third country nationals” only enjoying a second-class status, involving the denial of some basic human rights. They challenge the equation between “illegal” immigration and criminality put forward by some politicians, noting that this causes migration policies to focus on repression and the denial of rights. The document also calls for a universal “right to free movement” as the only means of eliminating clandestinity and the involvement of organised crime syndicates in “illegal immigration”.

For further information: marcelli@ici.rm.cnr.it

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