Today's Date:

Interministerial meeting committee to fight racism - Communique issued by Jean-Pierre Raffarin

Paris, January 17, 2005

The Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, today chaired the sixth meeting of the Interministerial Committee to fight Racism and Anti-Semitism.

The Interior Minister noted that there had been a substantial number of racist and anti-Semitic acts during the first nine months of 2004, but the last three months had seen a marked reversal of the trend thanks to better coordination of State services and a greater interchange with the organizations concerned. The bulk of these acts are being committed in four regions (Ile-de-France, Alsace, Corsica and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur). It is up to the public authorities to provide an appropriate response to these situations, whilst stressing that the people living there should not be stigmatized because of the acts of some minority groups.

The government's determination is seen in the active pursuit of the perpetrators of these acts. A growing number of cases have been solved and sentences are currently particularly severe, in line with the Justice Minister's instructions.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to strengthen measures to protect cemeteries. These places of remembrance are often particularly at risk because of their isolation. The legitimate outrage aroused by acts of desecration, perpetrated against every religion, require special measures taken with the support of the local mayors (police or gendarmerie patrols, CCTV, etc.).

The Justice Minister presented the policy of bringing the full force of the law to bear on such acts, conducted for over a year now, emphasizing that the active involvement of the courts had speeded up the hearing of these cases which are systematically given priority. In the next few weeks, the Prime Minister will hold a working meeting with the Principal State Prosecutors and law officers concerned. These law officers play a special role, liaising with the community organizations and victims. The decision to appoint these law officers was taken at the first meeting of the Interministerial Committee to fight Racism and Anti-Semitism.

The Minister for Employment, Labour and Social Cohesion reported on the work of the organizations combating racism and anti-Semitism. He stressed the importance of the meeting held under the Prime Minister's chairmanship on Friday, 14 January. The High Authority to Fight Discrimination and Promote Equality, to be set up on 1 February this year, will extend the possibilities of action. Likewise, the Culture Minister presented the conclusions of the mission responsible for the "Living together" programme which will actively involve the cultural institutions [in the promotion of tolerance, respect for differences and the desire to live together].

Finally, the Foreign Minister drew attention to all the French initiatives in the fight against the propagation of racist and anti-Semitic ideas thanks to the new information technology. There has been particular recognition of France's exemplary action in the fight against racism on the Internet. The Minister of State for Victims' Rights stressed that in the light of the French experience several States were contemplating setting up bodies similar to the Interministerial Committee to fight Racism and Anti-Semitism./.