European Network Against Racism

The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) is an EU-wide network of NGOs in all European Union Member States and Iceland. ENAR stands up against racism and discrimination and advocates for equality and solidarity for all in Europe. It connects local and national anti-racist NGOs throughout Europe and acts as an interface between its member organisations and the European institutions. It voices the concerns of ethnic and religious minorities in European and national policy debates.^[1]

Vision and mission

ENAR’s vision is of a society that guarantees equality for all and recognises the benefits of a diverse and racism-free Europe for European society and economy.

Its mission is to attain full equality and solidarity, allowing all members of society, whatever their skin colour, ethnicity, sex, gender, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation, to participate fully and be included in society. It specifically combats racism and discrimination based on colour, ethnicity, national origin, nationality, religion, culture, language or legal status.

Work

ENAR is the voice of its member organisations in Brussels and advocates on their behalf.

• It coordinates sex and services the ENAR network and voice their concerns towards EU institutions, the public and the media.
• It follows and monitors policy developments on the EU’s agenda to ensure they promote and actively put equality and diversity into practice and launch initiatives against racism and discrimination.
• It issues an annual Shadow Report on racism in Europe, which is a compilation of information and data collected by its member organisations. They are produced to fill the gaps in the official and academic data and to offer an NGO perspective on the realities of racism within the EU and its Member States.^[2]
• It takes part in advocacy coalitions and partnerships with other European networks, businesses, trade unions and foundations.

Areas of work

The following are some of the fields in which ENAR advocates for more equality and diversity in Europe:

• It urges the EU and its Member States to combat the specific poverty and social exclusion experienced by ethnic and religious minorities.^[3]
• It engages with policy makers, employers and trade unions to make equality in employment a reality, including through its Equal@work initiative.^[4]
• It pushes for the EU and its Member States to adopt a progressive and human rights-based approach to migration and integration and ensure equal treatment and opportunities for third country nationals.^[5]
• It calls on the EU to protect people who face discrimination in education and access to goods and services because of their ethnicity, sex, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
• It advocates for integration policies that actively involve both the broader society and migrants as a “two-way process”, with the view to create a European society that harnesses the full potential of its talents.^[6]
• It develops and implements counter-strategies to far-right and xenophobic discourses.^[7]

Members

ENAR members include a wide range of organisations that have in common the goal of a diverse, equal and racism-free Europe. They range from grassroots to advocacy organisations, from information centres, to trade unions, to faith-based organisations.

History

ENAR is an outcome of the 1997 European Year Against Racism. Between March and September 1998, more than 600 NGOs were involved in national and European round table consultations to discuss the viability of such a structure. The 1998 Constitutive Conference of the European Network Against Racism brought together more than 200 representatives of these organisations to draw up a common programme of action.

Member countries

NGOs in the following countries form the coalition:.^[8]

References

External links

• Official website