This publication is available online in 10 languages at http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/products/publications_reports/comparative_reports/pub_eu-midis_en.htm.

Survey reveals extent of discrimination, under-reporting and sense of resignation

Of all the groups surveyed by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the Roma emerged as the group most vulnerable to discrimination and crime. The FRA has therefore analysed their situation in a ‘data in focus’ report, the first in a series of reports on minority groups and issues covered by the survey. The report on the Roma reveals a bleak picture for the estimated 12 million Roma in the EU. Roma reported the highest overall levels of discrimination across all areas surveyed. 66-92% of Roma (depending on the country) did not report their most recent experience of discrimination to any competent authority. 65-100% of the Roma respondents reported lack of confidence in law enforcement and justice structures.

European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey (EU-MIDIS) - Survey Results

While the composition of Member States' populations is becoming increasingly diverse, FRA reports have consistently shown that there is a severe lack of data on minorities in many countries. Data is needed to measure social inclusion of ethnic minority and immigrant groups, as well as the extent of discriminatory treatment and criminal victimisation, including racially motivated crime, experienced by minorities.

Therefore, the FRA conducted a major representative survey (executed by GALLUP), interviewing selected ethnic minority and immigrant groups in all of the 27 Member States of the EU. The survey examined experiences of discriminatory treatment, racist crime, victimisation, awareness of rights, and reporting of complaints. This is the first ever EU-wide survey of ethnic minority and immigrant groups' experiences of discrimination and victimisation in everyday life.

The results of this major survey will be released throughout 2009 and 2010 in a series of “Data in Focus Reports” on different minority groups and key issues examined in the survey. The results will also be discussed at the FRA Fundamental Rights Conference in December 2009 in Stockholm, held under the auspices of the Swedish Presidency of the EU.

Discover more about the EU-MIDIS survey and its latest developments at http://fra.europa.eu/eu-midis/  


Source:  http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/products/publications_reports/comparative_reports/pub_eu-midis_en.htm