The Danish Government must immediately and fully stop all measures taken against the areas labelled as Ghettoes. The plan authorises the sale of two buildings, comprising over 200 family homes. But perhaps this is not surprising given that the Social Democrats, when in opposition, willingly voted for the ghetto package, an approach that chimed with its own firm approach towards immigrants. Thousands of people across Denmark face eviction from their homes under the country's "Ghetto Package," which seeks to "eradicate" "ghettos" by 2030. Definition of ghettos taken from Coalition Shadow Report:Danish state policy is now such that special measures can be implemented in vulnerable areas or ghettos of over 1,000 residents where the share of immigrants and descendants from non-Western countries, whether Danish citizens or not, exceeds 50 percent. John Graversgaard is Danish political activist, Originally published in Institute of Race Relations, SIGN UP FOR COUNTERCURRENTS DAILY NEWS LETTER, Countercurrents is answerable only to our readers. The approved plan is not appropriate or necessary. According to the University of Copenhagen, citing Statistics Denmark figures from 2020, only 5.3% of migrants from "non-Western countries" live in so-called ghetto areas. the Ghetto framing of the issue leads to stigmatizing and ostracizing targeted minorities, as well as fueling racial prejudice and intolerance towards them. The country's government introduced "ghetto" regulations in 2018 to further restrict people living in different districts based on their ethnic and cultural . Denmarks Ghetto package assumes that the sheer presence of clusters of populations of non-white ethnicities is the root cause of social problems in those areas, such as unemployment, low educational attainment, poverty or crimes. The right to protection of property: The approval of the development plan unduly interferes with the residents rights to peacefully enjoy their property under their permanent leases. As well as replying to the public consultat https://www.justiceinitiative.org/litigation/tenants-of-mjolnerparken-v-danish-ministry-of-transport-and-housing, UN Special Rapporteur finds that millions are failing to access social protection entitlements, Overview of Housing Exclusion in the EU: International standards of evictions, Respecting International Standards on Home Evictions, Danish Supreme Court upholds verdict that criminalises poverty, European Campaign for the Recognition of the Rights of Homeless People, Sixth Overview of Housing Exclusion - Rent regulation in the European Union. Common family housing is a form of non-profit housing run by housing associations that are intended to be self-governing and independent. Euro-Med Monitor calls on the Danish government to halt all discriminatory and disproportionate punitive measures against residents of areas listed as Ghettoes or tough Ghettoes; Introduce incentives to encourage the integration of migrants and their offspring, rather than their forced assimilation; Tackle the scarcity of affordable housing as well as discrimination in housing and the labor market against racial, ethnic or national minorities; Foster a more positive, welcoming and embracing perception of migrants and refugees in the country. This idea came on to the surface when Denmarks interior and housing minister disclose plans which demand to reduce the number of individuals of non-western background in Ghetto areas to less than 30% by 2030. The funds are used for matters such as the construction, renovation or demolition of buildings, as well as social projects such as activities for children and crime prevention programmes. [12] It has also been recognised that the loss of a family home places the family concerned in a particularly vulnerable position. And it seems the United Nations has heard them. Elisabet Kass and Ana-Maria Cioraru, Kompasset Kirkens Korshr. AR. [2] See, for example, Michala Bendixen, Denmarks anti-ghetto laws are a betrayal of our tolerant values, published in the Guardian on 10 July 2018, on other measures and the country becoming explicitly Islamophobic.. The previous governments ghetto package was aimed at getting rid of ghettos by 2030. The 22 proposals in the package, now known as L38, were passed in November 2018, and so far the following laws and policies from the package have been adopted: * Amendments to the Non-profit Housing Act, Non-profit Housing Rent Act and the Rent Act; * Powers for the police to define geographical areas as increased punishment zones in which punishments for certain crimes (eg, violence, vandalism, burglary, threatening behaviour, arson, drug offences, possession of weapons) can be doubled; * A mandatory pre-school programme, making 25 hours a week of day care obligatory for children from the age of one who live in vulnerable or ghetto areas. (Philip Davali / AP). The removal of residents with non-Western background is not a legitimate aim. Double punishment zones are also clear examples of discrimination, the NGOs say, as all citizens should be equal before the law, no matter where they live. Denmark has a big not-for-profit housing sector run by housing associations, which has been a thorn in the side of neoliberals who believe the market should take over this sector. She further added, Instead of addressing the root causes that lead to under education, unemployment and poverty among ethnic and national minorities, the Danish government seem to be busy to target already unprotected people for their social and economic benefit to find strength in political structure. First used in the 2018 government report Parallelsamfund Danmark (Parallel Societies in Denmark), it described the growth of dangerous parallel societies where citizens practise a culture with different and threatening religious and other values from those of the majority. Denmark's "Ghetto Package", as the ACFC puts it, "sends a message that may have a counter-effect on their feeling of belonging and forming an integral part of Danish society." It also urged that Denmark "reconsider the concepts of 'immigrants and descendants of immigrants of Western origin' and 'immigrants and descendants of . [13] The case includes the following arguments regarding the residents fundamental rights. See our casepage for more details.[15]. For the attempt to drastically reduce the number of housing associations could not have happened without mobilising fears about their non-western residents. Instruction to discriminate: the approval of the development plan constitutes an instruction to the housing association to discriminate. Denmark's 'Ghetto Laws' Show How the Welfare State Breeds Conflict by Dylan Moore | Jul 20, 2018 Danish Parliament recently passed a majority of controversial laws in a 22-proposal bundle known locally as the "ghetto package." This comes at a time when Denmarks lack of affordable housing and rising rents exacerbated by private investment have been noted by CESCR, which has recommended that Denmark increase its stock of affordable housing. Whether in terms of its flawed and discriminatory criteria that disproportionately target individuals of non-European ethnicities; its heavily punitive and counter-productive policies; or its very stigmatizing name, the Ghetto list contributes to fueling xenophobia, racial prejudice and intolerance against vulnerable minorities. This stigmatisation started in 2002 when Statistics Denmark (DST) introduced the term. Since IRR News last reported on Denmark's 'ghetto package', presented to parliament in March 2018 to regulate life in the so-called 'hard ghettos' of Mjlnerparken in Copenhagen, Gadehavegrd in Hje-Taastrup, Vollsmose in Odense and Gellerupparken/Toveshj in Aarhus, Denmark has had a general election. [4] In addition, the laws run counter to the purported justifications for the Ghetto Package, including the preservation of Danish values as well as better social integration and socio-economic conditions. Written by: John Graversgaard, Liz Fekete. Discrimination based on any type of status is prohibited by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) where a standalone right, such as the right to respect for home, is engaged. 44. This awful word is used in all seriousness to describe 25 residential areas across Denmark, where a significant proportion of the. Danish state policy is now such that special measures can be implemented in vulnerable areas or ghettos of over 1,000 residents where the share of immigrants and descendants from non-Western countries, whether Danish citizens or not, exceeds 50 percent. The ghetto package is inappropriate for its unsound and discriminatory criteria that only target individuals who belong to non-European ethnicities. Moreover, development plans can include the sale or demolition of common family housing, leading to the threat of evictions for so many. It is comprised of richly punitive and counterproductive policies which with the name Ghetto list only contribute to stirring up racial prejudice and fanaticism against unguarded minorities. And it seems the United Nations has heard them. Is Hygge Racism Behind Rise of Hate Crimes in Denmark? If statistics on non-western immigrants and their descendants are an essential part of categorising an area as a ghetto, then we can see how state laws are shaped from the start by racialisation a process that is then legitimised and normalised within the ghetto policy. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has tacitly acknowledged the validity of the criticisms of the NGOs (SOS Racisme Denmark, the Centre for Danish-Muslim Relations, Women in Dialogue, Refugees Welcome, Almen Modstand [Common Resistance], DEMOS and ENAR Denmark), by making a number of recommendations challenging the numerous retrogressive measures introduced by the Danish government and reminding the Danish state of its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). When the police are practicing racial profiling it may well be a systematic and integrated part of the institution, but it is still not formalised ie, the police do not openly admit that their policies are based on race discrimination. The case is an action for declaratory relief in Denmarks Eastern High Court, challenging the Ministrys approval of a Ghetto Package development plan. Euro-Med Human right monitor released a statement today in which they shed light on the role of the Ghettoes package in society. Individual circumstances must be taken into account in assessing whether the very weighty reasons required to justify an interference exist. There, 260 residencies will be sold. [3] See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding observations on sixth periodic report of Denmark, UN Doc. The "ghetto package," comprising over 20 different statutes, grants the government power to designate various neighbourhoods as "ghettos" or "tough ghettos." . But what does it mean? Denmark's Ghetto package assumes that the sheer presence of clusters of populations of non-white ethnicities is the root cause of social problems in those areas, such as unemployment, low educational attainment, poverty or crimes. Since IRR News last reported on Denmarks ghetto package, presented to parliament in March 2018 to regulate life in the so-called hard ghettos of Mjlnerparken in Copenhagen, Gadehavegrd in Hje-Taastrup, Vollsmose in Odense and Gellerupparken/Toveshj in Aarhus, Denmark has had a general election. Geneva - Denmarks Ghetto Package is a textbook recipe for discrimination, incitement and unnecessary and counterproductive punitive policies emanating from political expediency rather than sound policymaking, said Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor is a statement today. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. 51 and 52 and Council of Europe,Fifth Opinion on Denmark issued by the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, ACFC/OP/V(2019)003, 29 January 2020 (ACFC), para. Statistics show that most of those prosecuted under the law are from Romania, Albania and Bulgaria. Right to respect for private, family life and home: The approval of the development plan constitutes an unjustified interference the residents rights to respect for home as well as private and family life. Racism is being used to promote market interests. Shamefully, the Social Democrats have gone along with the attack on the not-for-profit housing sector. This is seen starkly in the debate preceding the introduction of the law, when the government stated that residents in the non-profit housing sector differ significantly from residents in the general housing market by having more than 20 percent residents of non-western backgrounds It is necessary to change the resident composition of the housing estates It is here in particular that many residents often immigrants from non-Western countries and descendants of immigrants live in isolated enclaves and do not adapt to Danish norms and values to a sufficient extent., The work of NGOs to expose and counter discrimination in Denmark is welcome. The EC decided to launch a short-term rental initiative. They also ask for providing better opportunities to encourage the blending of migrants and their babies. Support honest journalism because we have no PLANET B. But Danish NGOs and anti-racist organisations are fighting back. Facts: Gender Disparity is widespread in Denmark, Denmark Leaves No Stone Unturned To Make Refugees Unsafe, Denmarks Far-Right Policies Take a Hard Line on Migrants, Danish Discrimination Against Foreigners Is Soaring. But what does it mean? [10] The rights to respect for private and family life and home under Article 7 of the Charter are equivalent to those under Article 8 of the ECHR. Indirect discrimination: the approved plan puts racial/ethnic minorities at a particular disadvantage and is not objectively justified by a legitimate aim. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Definition of ghettos taken from Coalition Shadow Report:
Legal Officer, Open Society Justice Initiative, Thousands of people across Denmark face eviction from their homes under the countrys Ghetto Package, which seeks to eradicate ghettos by 2030. Shamefully, the Social Democrats have gone along with the attack on the not-for-profit housing sector. It is a picture not recognised by those who live there! shadow report to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. As the laws flout anti-discrimination laws enshrined in international conventions that Denmark is a party to, their first step has been to painstakingly document the discriminatory aspects of the laws, turning also to international bodies for assistance. Over exploitation of urban land and water resources by greedy private real estate developers perhaps the chief cause of floods. The previous governments ghetto package was aimed at getting rid of ghettos by 2030. D enmark has just passed a law called the "ghetto deal". A ruling from that Court could be relevant not just in Denmark but across Europe where cases of area-based discrimination including in the realm of housing are growing. In March 2018, the government of Denmark presented an action plan with 22 proposals where Denmark would be rid of the ghettoes by 2030. media@opensocietyfoundations.org. This is a very real threat, as local municipalities have been sending letters to Danish citizens with dual nationality informing them that if they give up their Danish citizenship and move to another country they will be rewarded. There are currently 15 "hard ghettos" in Denmark. Actions taken now can help to address these deficiencies, while also serving to protect the right to housing of residents during the pandemic.[8] Instead of scrapping the Ghetto Package, however, the current government has reaffirmed its commitment to it throughout the pandemic. [11] The case includes the following arguments under these frameworks. Stockholm (AP) A group of Copenhagen residents sued the Danish government Wednesday over legislation that authorized dismantling neighborhoods designated as "ghettos," arguing that the measures discriminate on the basis of ethnicity and should be overturned in court. Today, this negative concept of the parallel society has come to stigmatise those who live in the so-called ghettos as living within ethnic cultural or cultural-religious homogeneous segregated enclaves where there is almost complete everyday civil, societal and economic segregation. It also draws on Islamophobia, with the burqa ban deemed another example of direct discrimination (on the basis of religion), while the mandatory day care package, in addition to being discriminatory, is an attempt at forced assimilation. [14] Meanwhile, the Danish Parliament has been presented with a citizens petition of more than 50,000 signatures, with the effect that it must debate a proposal to repeal the relevant housing law provisions and abolish the annual publication of ghetto lists. The share of residents aged between 18 and 64 years with no connection to the job market or the educational system exceeds 40 percent, averaged over the last two years; The share of residents convicted of violations of the Criminal Code, the Weapons Act, or the Controlled Substances Act exceeds three times the national norm, averaged over the last two years; The share of residents aged between 30 and 59 years with only lower secondary education exceeds 60 percent; The average gross income for taxpayers aged between 15 and 64 years in the area, excluding students, is less than 55 percent of the average gross income for the same group in the region. 50. 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