Human Rights In Europe

1. Human Rights In Europe Kathryn Sain

2. Far-Right Political Parties • The biggest threat to human rights throughout Europe would be the growing popularity of far-right political parties in mainstream European politics. These parties are anti-immigration and serve under isolationist policies that highlight nationalism above all else. They basically seek to rid their countries of all foreigners who fail to assimilate to their respective cultures. In this presentation I will focus on the most prominent groups in different European countries and how much political power and influence they hold within their country.

3. Austria • The Freedom Party is headed by Joerg Haider. They won political power in the year 2000, which prompted sanctions by the European Union (EU). Although support has eroded from twenty-seven percent to sixteen percent, the party still maintains power and often releases statements that are seen as anti-foreigner and anti-Semitic.

4. Britain • The anti-immigrant party in Britain, know as the British National Party, has been accused of triggering deadly riots in various towns between caucasian youth and local immigrant populations. Although they are small, the British Labor Party (one of the two major British parties in Parliament) warns that officials should not underestimate the impact their candidates have on local elections.

5. Belgium • The far-right party known as Vlaams Blok (Flemish Bloc) favors independence for Flanders, Belgium’s Dutch-speaking northern half. They are advocates of stopping immigration and the expulsion of immigrants who fail to assimilate to Belgian culture. They currently hold about fifteen and a half percent of the seats in the Flemish parliament and are the biggest party in Antwerp, the nation’s second largest city.

6. Denmark • In Denmark they are two prominent far-right parties, the Progress Party and the People’s Party. The Progress Party calls for the expulsion of all Muslims from Denmark and holds twenty-two seats in the 179-member parliament. The People’s Party is more moderate but currently holds no official place in the government.

7. France • National Front is the party headed by extreme nationalist and presidential hopeful Jean-Marie Le Pen. Immigrants are his favorite target and are often blamed for things such as high unemployment and violent crime. He currently has about seventeen percent of the national vote.

8. Germany • The current government in Germany has been trying to ban the far-right party known as the National Democratic Party due to the fact that it ferments skinhead violence and espouses neo-Nazi ideology. Although the party is currently politically insignificant, the government wishes to keep them away from state campaign funds to avoid further exposure in hopes that they will fade away without popular support.

9. Italy • Italy also has two important far-right political parties, the National Alliance and the Northern League. The National Alliance is a direct descendant of Mussolini’s fascist party, and garnered twelve percent of the vote in the last election. The Northern League is anti-immigrant and wishes to deport jobless immigrants.

10. The Netherlands • Leefbaar Nederland (Livable Netherlands) is a fledgling right-wing party that has won thirty-five percent of the vote for city council seats in Rotterdam, the second-largest city. They advocate a ban on immigration and criticize Islam as a ‘backward culture.’

11. Norway • Party of Progress is a party known for its anti-immigration views and won twenty-five seats in the 165-seat parliament in the last election. Although it is far-right by Norwegian socialist standards, it does not embrace neo-Nazi or extremist views, it only believes that their current immigration policies are ‘too soft.’

12. Conclusion • The state of politics throughout Europe could have a drastic effect on the human rights of immigrants and foreigners living in countries where far-right political parties come into power. If a far-right political leader should ever command a majority of the popular support within their country, than they could begin to strip immigrants of their civil rights and liberties, and, at worst, forcibly remove them from their country. Some countries, such as Germany, have taken steps to prevent these parties from gaining exposure, but I believe that the only thing that will lead to a decrease in support for far-right political parties is to educate people about human rights and equality issues for all people, including immigrants.

13. The End • Thank you!