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What People Are Saying About Human Rights First’s 2007 Hate Crimes Survey “[Human Rights First’s 2007 Hate Crimes Survey] is a detailed and concise overview of hate crimes in the former Soviet Union, with clear explanations of the trends and major incidents, as well as how local governments respond them.” Nikolai Butkevich “Once again Human Rights First has distinguished itself among human rights organizations in seriously addressing anti-Semitism as a phenomenon in Europe. In its 2007 Hate Crimes Survey, the organization links anti-Semitism to other forms of hatred in Europe, but also identifies its particular characteristics and manifestations. The report does not shy away from linking propaganda against Israel to the anti-Semitism surge in Europe and puts to rest the claims that such activities are legitimate responses to alleged Israeli misbehavior. Human Rights First report is a model for how anti-Semitism needs to be addressed by non-governmental bodies around the world.” Kenneth Jacobson “The 2007 Hate Crime Survey is nothing short of a wake up call both to law enforcement as well as policymakers that hate crimes are on the rise around the world and deserve to be taken seriously. Aside from the severity of the violence, perhaps the most shocking aspect of hate attacks reported in the Survey is the diversity of their targets. Anybody and everybody who can be regarded as an outsider or a foreigner is at risk--Muslims, Jews, dark-skinned people, Roma, gays, and even people with disabilities have been victimized. A failure to act now will only bring more of the same in the future.” Professor Jack Levin, Ph.D "Homophobia - and hate crime against gays and lesbians- is a growing problem, aggravated by the religious intolerant, studiously ignored by complicit governments and trivialized by many. We need to act. This report is a step in the right direction." Magenta Foundation / ICARE (Internet Centre against Racism in Europe) "As a coalition of European NGOs one of our main aims is to ensure that hate crimes are acknowledged, recorded and addressed by European governments, institutions and society. Coalition Europe applauds Human Rights First for publishing this new survey on hate crimes and for continuing to bring international attention to the increasing incidents of hate-motivated violence within the borders of Europe." Erika Harriford-McLaren “Undeterred by the dearth of information on hate crimes internationally, Human Rights First presents a rich and useful compilation of some of the most violent and disturbing acts of hate committed in Europe, Central Asia, and the North America. By way of short narratives 2007 Hate Crime Survey provides a vivid picture of a rising tide of hate in the region of the world covered by the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The accounts of these crimes are so difficult to comprehend; human beings attacking fellow human beings out of sheer ignorance, prejudice, and irrational fears. 2007 Hate Crime Survey cannot be ignored; the ten-point plan presented in the report provides a blueprint for action and should be implemented everywhere.” James Nolan III, Ph.D “I always admire the work done by Human Rights First... and would like to express my appreciation for a comprehensive study on a very important issue. I especially found the ten point plan for reducing hate crimes (recommendations for governments) most appropriate and useful.... As you rightly state in the Islamophobia companion of your survey, most governments in Europe still do not track and record anti-Muslim incidents through official state mechanisms. In nations where the recording of data does take place, many governments still underreport such incidents and significantly under record complaints.” Ambassador Ömür Orhun "The work carried out by Human Rights First serves a vital purpose in providing an external, community-based, scrutiny and analysis of developing or ongoing trends in hate-motivated crime. National governments and police authorities should welcome this additional scrutiny and regard Human Rights First as a critical friend, with a necessary and constructive role to play in the campaign to stop hate." Tim Parsons "I admire the fact that Human Rights First has taken up the hate crime issue in Europe. I have always wished that international human rights organizations while rightfully focusing on human rights violations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, do not forget their own backyard. Ethnic and religious minorities are not only facing colossal socio-economic problems in Europe but are increasingly victim of cultural and religious discrimination and hate crime." Bashy Quraishy President “Human Rights First has done a valuable service by publishing four reports on hate crimes in Europe and North America: the 2007 Hate Crimes Survey and companion surveys on Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and Homophobia. Taken together they expose the extent of physical and verbal attacks based on bias, hate and intolerance. They reveal the lack of protection by states through laws and reporting mechanisms, and the widespread indifference to the suffering caused to victims often afraid to complain. It is time for the 56 countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to meet their obligations to protect the human security of those victims and to adopt a policy of zero tolerance of hate crimes.” Mary Robinson This report is a crucial contribution to promoting human rights in Europe today. Governments and societies need to confront the harsh reality of racist violence and intolerance that has become so common in too many countries. A disturbing pattern of discriminatory attacks has emerged and reports like this one from Human Rights First are needed to challenge the complacency and indifference of European institutions. Joshua Rubenstein With the publication of its Hate Crimes Survey 2007, Human Rights First has again moved antisemitism high on the human-rights agenda. The overview study of hate crimes generally and the targeted companion review of antisemitism both offer valuable insights into the fusion of century-old antisemitic texts with criticism of recent government actions in Israel. The two reports serve as a much-needed call to European governments to monitor and combat these virulent and deadly new strains of an ancient affliction. Rabbi David Saperstein “This is a high quality report which explains the more nuanced characteristics that other reports miss, eg that antisemitism appears on its own (for the usual historical reasons), that it is part of a general rise in racist violence (in which Jews may be victims but so could other visible minorities had they been in the wrong place at the wrong time); [and] that Middle East tension overspills; and makes the vital point that states are continuing to fail in their reporting of racist and antisemitic violence.” Michael Whine |
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