Credit:  coe.int/en /  Racial profiling constitutes a specific form of racial discrimination and must be expressly prohibited by law – Council of Europe Anti-Racism Commission 

By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The Council of Europe’s 47-member anti-racism commission, ECRI, warned against racial profiling in policing across Europe. ECRI has called upon European governments to send strong messages and take determined action, even if these instances may only be isolated events, and reiterated that trust in the police by everyone in the society enhances safety for all. 

“Racial profiling constitutes a specific form of racial discrimination and must be expressly prohibited by law. It generates a feeling of humiliation and injustice among those groups that are subjected to it, results in their stigmatisation, negative stereotyping and alienation, and hinders good community relations.”

-ECRI 

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It includes 47 member states, 27 of which are members of the European Union.   According to the European Court of Human Rights, racial profiling can result in “institutionalised racism”.

Tragic Death of American George Floyd Triggers Global Protests Against Racist Policing 

The ECRI statement  On Racist Police Abuse, Including Racial Profiling, and Systemic Racism was adopted at by ECRI at its 82nd plenary meeting (30 June – 2 July 2020)  in Strasbourg, France amid the tragic death of American George Floyd upon apprehension by the police in late May 2020 in Minneapolis, USA. ECRI said the Floyd death  has triggered a wave of protests against racism across the world and ignited discussions on the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials against persons belonging to minority groups, the persistent practices of racial profiling and more generally systemic racism, all of which are to be found in Europe.  ECRI calls upon Council of Europe member states to take “determined action”  in this area.

“During its country visits, ECRI has heard many accounts of racist police abuse, including racial profiling and acts of violence, towards minority groups or migrants. As clearly stated in ECRI’s General Policy Recommendation No. 11 on combating racism and racial discrimination in policing, racial profiling constitutes a specific form of racial discrimination and must be expressly prohibited by law.”

-ECRI

The  ECRI particularly notes that,   as concluded by the European Court of Human Rights, the perception by police officers of persons belonging to a particular community as “criminals” and the ensuing practice of racial profiling can result in “institutionalised racism”. 

ECRI  Calls On Council of Europe Member States to take Steps in particular to develop:

-recruitment procedures which ensure that the composition of the police reflects the

diversity of the population

-human rights training, at regular intervals, for all police officers;

-frameworks for dialogue and co-operation between the police and members of minority groups;

-effective reporting procedures within the police, including through the adoption of protective

measures for ‘whistle blowers’

-strong support for victims and witnesses of police misconduct

-fully independent bodies to investigate incidents of alleged police abuse.