By: Ramesh Kallidai
The Campaign which will last five years seeks to sensitise the general public and to transmit information about the relevant legal situation on discrimination, with a focus on the workplace in the first year. Article 13 included in the EU treaty outlaws discrimination based on gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Member states like the UK must ensure that appropriate legislation is in place by December 2003 to outlaw discrimination at work.
The good news about Article 13 is that it will eventually provide EU citizens with a legal instrument to act against. The bad news is that it will be difficult to achieve awareness, enforcement and benefit of redress to victims without a major campaign within and outside the European Parliament.
In December 2002, DG Employment and Social Affairs of the European Commission charged the agency Media Consulta with the coordination and realisation of the information campaign to combat discrimination in the 15 EU Member States.
In order to ensure that the campaigns are doing justice to the individual differences as well as the mutual interests of the affected stakeholders, the Directorate-General as well as the agency have asked Focus Groups in five member states to discuss efficient ways to evaluate the situation in any given country. The results of these focus groups will be the basis of the development of concrete action plans.
I voiced some of my concerns at the Focus Group meeting and listened to some pertinent points made by others. There were representatives at the meeting from the Department of Trade and Industry, Disability Rights Commission, UK Disability Forum for European Affairs, Minority Rights Group International, Third Age Employment and other organisatons.
Debra Humphries from the DTI smiled at me and said, “Its good to finally put a face to the name, Ramesh. It was John Tucker from the DTI who recommended you for this meeting.”
She explained that the Focus Group did not have a balanced representation because it was only an initial meeting for first reactions and feedback. The National Working Group to be formed later would have a representative balance of all the stakeholders.
Ali Jarvis from Stonewall, who was sitting next to me said, “I saw your name on the list sent to me last week. I must say I was surprised to see you described just as a ‘businessman’.”
“I was a bit surprised too,” I replied.
“I thought you must be a pretty important businessman to be invited to a meeting like this,” she smiled.
“But I represent the Hindu Council of Brent.”
“I know that,” she chuckled. “I searched your name on the internet, and it came up with all sorts of information about your other activities. I know there is a lot more to you than just being a plain businessman.”
“The internet is such a blessing, isn’t it?” I laughed. “One can keep no secrets any more.”
Friends in need
The recent killing of Hindu families in Kashmir has provoked anger and sympathy around the world. I have heard many Hindu leaders claim in exasperation that the Western media does not value Hindu lives as much as it does Christian or Jewish ones.
While I cannot comment on the truth of these conclusions, I cannot help noticing that killing of Hindus in Kashmir never ever grabs the same international attention as the killing of Jews in Israel.
All hope, however is not lost. The British Parliament seems to be teeming with genuine friends of India.
Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow (West) tabled an Early Day Motion censuring the killing of Hindu families and called for a categorical end to cross-border terrorism. The EDM was supported by MPs cutting across party lines including
Barry Gardiner, Stephen Pound, Keith Vaz, Martin Caton, The Reverend Martin Smyth, Bill Etherington, Dr Rudi Vis, Joan Ruddock, Harry Barnes, Peter Luff and Bob Russell.
Interestingly, neither Marsha Singh nor Lorna Fitzsimon, MPs with a large Kashmiri Indian population in their constituencies, have not signed the EDM. Both of them have previously passed EDMs that have been quite vocal in their support for Pakistan’s viewpoint on Kashmir.
I remembered a quote from Chanakya Niti, an ancient compendium of Indian wisdom: “He is a true friend who does not forsake us in time of need, misfortune, famine, or war, in a king's court, or at a funeral.”
It is quite obvious who our true friends are. Keep up the good work Gareth.