Appendix I
The Vienna Declaration
(This is the full text of the "Declaration
and Plan of Action on combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism
and intolerance", which formed a part of the Vienna
Declaration, adopted and signed in Vienna, 9 October 1993
by the Heads of State and Government of the member States
of the Council of Europe.)
Declaration and Plan of Action on combating
racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance
We, Heads of State and Government
of the Council of Europe member States,
Convinced that the diversity of traditions
and cultures has for centuries been one of Europe's riches
and that the principle of tolerance is the guarantee of
the maintenance in Europe of an open society respecting
the cultural diversity to which we are attached;
Convinced that to bring about a democratic
and pluralist society respecting the equal dignity of all
human beings remains one of the prime objectives of European
construction;
Alarmed by the present resurgence of racism,
xenophobia and antisemitism, the development of a climate
of intolerance, the increase in acts of violence, notably
against migrants and people of immigrant origin, and the
degrading treatment and discriminatory practices accompanying
them;
Equally alarmed also by the development
of aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism which constitute
new expressions of xenophobia;
Concerned at the deterioration of the economic
situation, which threatens the cohesion of European societies
by generating forms of exclusion likely to foster social
tensions and manifestations of xenophobia;
Convinced that these manifestations of
intolerance threaten democratic societies and their fundamental
values and undermine the foundations of European construction;
Confirming the Declaration of 14 May 1981
of the Committee of Ministers in which the latter already
solemnly condemned all forms of intolerance and the acts
of violence that they engender;
Reaffirming the values of solidarity, which
must inspire all members of society in order to reduce marginalisation
and social exclusion;
Convinced furthermore that Europe's future
demands from individuals and from groups not only tolerance
but also the will to act together, combining their diverse
contributions,
• Condemn in the strongest possible
terms racism in all its forms, xenophobia, antisemitism
and intolerance and all forms of religious discrimination;
• Encourage member States to continue
efforts already undertaken to eliminate these phenomena,
and commit ourselves to strengthening national laws and
international instruments and taking appropriate measures
at national and European level;
• Undertake to combat all ideologies,
policies and practices constituting an incitement to racial
hatred, violence and discrimination, as well as any action
or language likely to strengthen fears and tensions between
groups from different racial, ethnic, national, religious
or social backgrounds;
• Launch an urgent appeal to European
peoples, groups and citizens, and young people in particular,
that they resolutely engage in combating all forms of intolerance
and that they actively participate in the construction of
a European society based on common values, characterised
by democracy, tolerance and solidarity.
To this end, we instruct the Committee
of Ministers to develop and implement as soon as possible
the following plan of action and mobilise the necessary
financial resources.
Plan of Action
1. Launch a broad European Youth Campaign
to mobilise the public in favour of a tolerant society based
on the equal dignity of all its members and against manifestations
of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance.
This campaign, co-ordinated by the Council
of Europe in co-operation with the European Youth Organisations
will have a national and local dimension through the creation
of national committees.
It will aim in particular at stimulating
pilot projects involving all sections of society.
2. Invite member States to reinforce guarantees
against all forms of discrimination based on race, national
or ethnic origin or on religion, and to this end to:
• re-examine without delay their
legislation and regulations with a view to eliminating provisions
likely to generate discrimination based on any of these
reasons or likely to sustain prejudice;
• assure effective implementation
of legislation aimed at combating racism and discrimination;
• reinforce and implement preventive
measures to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and
intolerance, giving special attention to awareness-raising
and confidence-building measures.
3. Establish a Committee of governmental
Experts with a mandate to:
• review member States' legislation,
policies and other measures to combat racism, xenophobia,
antisemitism and intolerance, and their effectiveness;
• propose further action at local,
national and European level;
• formulate general policy recommendations
to member States;
• study international legal instruments
applicable in the matter with a view to their reinforcement
where appropriate.
The Committee of Experts will report regularly
to the Committee of Ministers, which will seek the opinions
of the relevant Steering Committees.
Further modalities for the functioning
of this new mechanism should be decided by the Committee
of Ministers.
4. Reinforce mutual understanding and confidence
between people through the Council of Europe's co-operation
and assistance programmes. Work in this area would focus
in particular on:
• studying the deep-seated causes
of intolerance and considering remedies, notably by means
of a seminar and support for research programmes:
• promoting education in the fields
of human rights and respect for cultural diversity;
• strengthening programmes aimed
at eliminating prejudice in the teaching of history by emphasising
positive mutual influence between different countries, religions
and ideas in the historical development of Europe;
• encouraging transfrontier co-operation
between local authorities so as to boost confidence;
• intensifying co-operative work
in the fields of inter-community relations and equality
of opportunities;
• developing policies to combat social
exclusion and extreme poverty.
5. Request the media professions to report
and comment on acts of racism and intolerance factually
and responsibly, and to continue to develop professional
codes of ethics which reflect these requirements.
In the execution of this Plan, the Council
of Europe will take due account of the work of UNESCO in
the field of tolerance, in particular preparations for a
"Year of Tolerance" in 1995.
A first report on implementation of the
Plan of Action will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers
at its 94th Session in May 1994.
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