Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

15th June 2009

After the results of the European elections, the AEDH expresses its deep concern regarding the rise of the extreme right in several EU Member States.

Extreme right parties won 8 more seats compared to 2004. What is even more alarming is the passive reaction, even the complacency in some cases, of several political parties and national authorities, in response to the racist and xenophobic remarks, which lead to exclusion, made by leaders of the extreme right. The AEDH can only be alarmed by this rise of racism and xenophobia and the possible establishment of an extreme right political party in the European Parliament. This is in contradiction with the rights proclaimed in the Fundamental Rights Charter and the values which joined together EU countries. The AEDH observes that this rise of populism has to be interpreted as a direct consequence of the increase and persistence of social inequalities. In recent decades, an already deep gap regarding income distribution in Europe has widened. The only answer given is a security-oriented talk and the stigmatization of foreigners, instead of seeking to measure the extent of social inequalities and trying to reduce them. The AEDH calls on the citizens, political forces and civil society to join together in order to denounce this situation and ask from national and European public authorities to not tolerate any kind of racist and xenophobic outbreak. It insists that the only way possible to consolidate the European construction is that of a social Europe where social rights are considered equal to other rights.

Contact :
Pierre BARGE, Président AEDH, European Association for the defense of Human Rights, Partner member of the FIDH
Rue de la Caserne, 33 B- 1000 Bruxelles
Phone : +32(0)25112100
Fax : +32(0)25113200
aedh aedh.eu
www.aedh.eu