Human rights abuse ignored in Europe

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Human Rights Watch Sunday said European Union members ignore human rights abuse at home, but claim the issue's importance in inspiring the Arab Spring.

"Judging from the soaring rhetoric on the Arab Spring in 2011, human rights would seem to be a central concern of the EU," said Benjamin Ward, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The sad truth is that European Union governments too often set aside rights at home when they prove inconvenient, especially those of vulnerable minorities and migrants and brush aside criticism of abuse."

In its World Report 2012, released Sunday, the Human Rights Watch reported trends of abuse in the areas of migration and asylum, discrimination and intolerance and counter-terrorism policy in nine member states of the European Union.

Instances of racist and xenophobic violence against migrants, asylum seekers, and Roma people were serious problems in several countries, including Greece, Italy and Hungary, the report found.

The Human Rights Watch also said the European Commission failed to adequately act against measures that violate the Charter of Fundamental Rights and other EU laws.

"For all its promises of zero-tolerance, the European Commission has proved reluctant to take on member states over their human rights records," Ward said. "Unless the commission finds more courage, the downward slide on rights inside the EU looks set to continue."

"The net result of human rights developments in Europe causes great concern," Ward said. "Without concerted government action, the next generation of Europeans may see human rights as an optional extra rather than a core value."