The CULT (Culture and Education) Committee has voted in favor of a report that intends to be a first step towards the full realisation of a fair, inclusive and just society by tackling racism and discrimination in the field of culture, education, sports and media. Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR) is the rapporteur and asks for more representation and diversity in History books, calls member states to monitor diversity on the media.

Brussels

statement

Committee on Culture and Education

fight against racism and xenophobia (T)

YENBOU, Salima (Renew, FR)

The role of culture, education, media and sport in the fight against racism: statement by Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR)

SOUNDBITE (French), Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, One of the main conclusions of this report is to admit that the media, education, sport but also culture are important vectors for conveying all these questions of the fight against racism.

SOUNDBITE (French), Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Raporteur, This is a vast topic and this report is the first step. My strongest wish is that each year, we could reassess it and and bring stronger solutions.

SOUNDBITE (French), Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, We are calling the member states to review their history programs. I think that this is a really important point to tell what European history is, including colonization and slavery.

SOUNDBITE (French), Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, In the media, there is a responsibility to assume : they convey stereotypes. When we worked on that report, it was often said, for example that in movies or in the media, Muslims, are always portrayed as terrorists and people who have black skin are portrayed like thieves.

SOUNDBITE (French), Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, We are asking the media to be provided in each country with a an entity that can monitor what is broadcasted and that receive alerts from listeners, citizens that signal a racist act. I really insist on that responsability.

SOUNDBITE (French), Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR), Rapporteur, The diversity must be represented on TV, on the air, but also behind the cameras. This representativeness is important and that is why it is one of the recommendations in this report.