BRIEFING ON EUROPEANS OF AFRICAN DESCENT

WASHINGTON - The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) will hold the following briefing today:

Europeans of African Descent 'Black Europeans': Race, Rights, and Politics

Tuesday, November 19

11:00 a.m.

Dirksen Senate Office Building Room SDG-50

Throwing bananas and other racist acts targeting Black cabinet-level officials in Italy and France have put a spotlight on the experiences of the 7-10 million people of African Descent in Europe / Black Europeans. A visible minority in Europe often unacknowledged despite a centuries' long presence in Europe, Black Europeans have increasingly become the targets of discrimination, pernicious racial profiling, and violent hate crimes impacting equal access to housing, employment, education, and justice.

Europe today grapples with the complex intersection of national identity, decreasing birth rates, increasing immigration, security concerns, and a rise in extremist political parties and vigilantism. In this context, the experiences of Black Europeans increasingly serve as a measure of the strength of European democracies and commitments to human rights. The briefing will discuss the work of Black European rights organizations and the efforts of the international community to address issues of inequality, discrimination, and inclusion for Black Europeans, in addition to discussing similarities and work with African-American civil rights organizations.

The following panelists are scheduled to participate:

King C. Asante-Yeboa, President, Africa Center, Ukraine

Hedwig Bvumburah, Director, Cross Culture International Foundation (CCIF), Malta

Salome Mbugua, CEO, AkiDwA, Migrant Women's Network, Ireland

Jallow Momodou, Vice-Chair for European Network Against Racism; Chair, Pan-African Movement for Justice, Sweden

Larry Olomoofe, Racism and Xenophobia Advisor, OSCE/ODIHR, Poland

Please click here to watch the BET interview with the 10 nation delegation of Black Europeans.