EU RIGHTS BODY PRESSED ON TONE OF 'GYPSY' NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

The Celtic League General Secretary has written to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights expressing concern about an article which appeared in a UK newspaper (see below):

«Morten Kjaerum Director Secretariat European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Vienna

directorate@...

09/01/09

Dear Morten Kjaerum

Racist Media Articles, UK

I would like to draw the attention of the Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) to a recent newspaper article that appeared in a London based newspaper on 3rd January 2009, entitled »How the views of 3,100 middle England residents on gipsy camps were rejected... because they were deemed 'racist'«[1].

The Celtic League view such news articles in the public press with increasing concern, not only because we feel that their tone is indeed prejudiced to certain ethnic groups, but also that such articles have appeared with increasing frequency in recent years. We are aware that there is a procedure for reporting newspaper articles that can be construde as prejudiced or racist in the UK, namely the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) and the Celtic League has pursued this channel on numerous occassions in the past. However, unfortunately we have not found the PCC to be a very effective body in dealing with such accusations.

I am therefore also writing to you, as an organisation that is actively engaged in tackling discrimination towards vulnerable groups in the EU, to ascertain what your view is with regard to the publication of such press articles and if the FRA is in a position to act in any way against them. We appreciate the full importance of freedom of expression in the press, but we feel that occasionally in newspaper articles such as the one highlighted above, that discrimination is enhanced among the general public as a consequence of their prejudiced overtones and that there is very little that can be done about it.

The Celtic League has also written to MicheᬠMartin TD, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Ireland about the article, because the piece specifically mentions 'Irish Travellers'. We have also copied this letter to the PCC in the UK for their records.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

CC Press Complaints Commission»

Related link on Celtic News at:

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 10/01/09