Romania

[RO] "NO to Discrimination" Campaign Continues

IRIS 2010-6:1/39

Mariana Stoican

Journalist, Bucharest

The Consiliul Naţional al Audiovizualului (national council for electronic media - CNA) will continue its partnership with the Consiliul Naţional pentru Combaterea Discriminării (national council for the fight against discrimination - CNCD) and the Biroul de Informare al Consiliului Europei la Bucureşti (Council of Europe office in Bucharest - BICE) for the period from 31 March to 31 July 2010. The aim of the partnership is to increase awareness of the Council of Europe's "Say NO to discrimination" campaign in Romania (see IRIS 2009-8:17).

The Ministerul Administraţiei şi Internelor (Ministry for administration and home affairs - MAI) and the Ministerul Educaţiei, Cercetării, Tineretului şi Sportului (Ministry for education, research, youth and sport - MECTS) are also involved in the campaign.

The purpose of this Europe-wide campaign, which is also being conducted in all the other 46 Council of Europe member states, is to combat discrimination and promote cultural diversity.

In view of the important role that the media can play in promoting intercultural dialogue, informing the general public and shaping public opinion, all journalists are invited to participate in the campaign in order to spread a culture of tolerance and better mutual understanding, particularly in the light of the press's responsibility in the fight against discrimination, xenophobia, racism, extremism and violations of fundamental rights.

The Council of Europe is supporting the campaign in Romania by providing Romanian-language materials such as TV commercials, posters and postcards with the message "Say NO to discrimination".

The CNA has urged all national and local broadcasters to broadcast the TV commercials. The CNCD has set up a 24-hour hotline which the general public can use to lodge complaints about discrimination and find information on the subject.