[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ADDRESSING AFROPHOBIA IN EUROPE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
European Parliament's February 20, 2014 public hearing on Afrophobia, 
as well as the critical importance of continuing to work with the 
European Union (EU) to address racism and discrimination against Black 
Europeans. It has been organized by the Green Party in collaboration 
with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) and the European 
Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR).
  An estimated seven to ten million individuals of African descent 
currently live in Europe, particularly in France, the United Kingdom, 
and The Netherlands. These populations form an influential part of the 
African Diaspora. From labor and scholarship to politics and civil 
rights, they have contributed greatly to European history and culture 
over the past several centuries. However, the story of Black Europeans 
remains widely untold, rendering many of their past and present 
contributions to the political and social life of Europe invisible or 
forgotten. Furthermore, similar to the experiences of many African 
Americans, they have increasingly become the targets of discrimination, 
pernicious racial profiling, and violent hate crimes impacting equal 
access to housing, employment, education, and justice.
  I commend Members of the European Parliament Jean-Jacob Bicep, Jean 
Lambert, and Philippe Lamberts of the Greens/European Free Alliance 
(EFA) for building upon previous efforts and hosting a public hearing 
on Afrophobia in the EU. As the Ranking Democratic Member of the 
Helsinki Commission, I have long worked with European policymakers, 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community leaders to help 
address inequality and discrimination facing persons of African 
descent.
  In November 2013, the U.S. Helsinki Commission hosted an Organization 
for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office of Democratic 
Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) delegation of Black European 
Rights Leaders representing 10 countries.
  During a Commission briefing, entitled ``Europeans of African Descent 
`Black Europeans': Race, Rights, and Politics,'' members of the 
delegation shed light on the challenges encountered by many Black 
Europeans due to ongoing racism and discrimination, including barriers 
to greater political representation and leadership opportunities. 
Furthermore, they drew attention to the need for increased cooperation 
between Europe and the United States to combat racial discrimination 
and continuing racial disparities.
  In conjunction with the Delegation's visit, I introduced H. Res. 421 
``Recognizing People of African Descent and Black Europeans'', which 
outlines concrete steps that the United States can take to help address 
racism and discrimination in Europe. It calls for the adoption of a 
Joint U.S.-European Union Action Plan to develop transatlantic 
solutions to combat racial discrimination and promote racial equality 
in Europe.
  In addition, I sent a letter to President Obama on December 20, 2013 
urging him to sign a Presidential Memorandum on ``International 
Initiatives to Advance Human Rights, Social Inclusion, Equality, and 
Empowerment of Peoples of African Descent.''
  Mr. Speaker, Europe is currently grappling with complex questions at 
the intersection of national identity, decreasing birth rates, 
increasing immigration, security concerns, and a rise in extremist 
political parties. Cooperation between the United State and the EU is 
key to addressing the global challenges of racism and discrimination, 
and we should recognize the efforts made by the EU to address them.

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