,,iv #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #bef ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bf1 #bjai,mr4 ,hastings 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,mr4 ,lewis1 and ,mr4 ,meeks7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,recognizing people of ,african descent and ,black ,europeans4 ,whereas the #ajith ,congress passed ,h4 ,con4 ,res4 #fj and ,s4 ,con4 ,res4 #ij1 recognizing ,african descendants in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean1 raising awareness of the racism and discrimination faced by those communities1 and leading to numerous public and private sector initiatives between the ,united ,states and ,latin ,american and ,caribbean countries to improve the situation of ,african descendants2 ,whereas the persistence of racism and discrimination in ,europe similarly necessitates congressional action to raise awareness and promote public and private sector initiatives to stem this trend2 ,whereas the ,may #ai1 #bjah1 royal wedding of ,meghan ,markle and ,prince ,harry1 the ,duke of ,sussex1 raised awareness of the long history and situation of ,african-descent populations in ,europe2 ,whereas the terms ,afro-,european1 ,african ,european1 or ,black ,european refer to people of ,african ancestry or descent born in1 citizens of1 or living in ,europe2 ,whereas an estimated #ae1jjj1jjj to #bj1jjj1jjj ,black ,europeans live in and have long had a presence in ,europe1 forming an influential part of the ,african diaspora2 ,whereas the story of ,black ,europeans remains widely untold1 rendering many of their past and present contributions to the political and social life of ,europe invisible or forgotten2 ,whereas unlike more contemporary figures1 largely unknown ,blacks have made significant contributions to ,european history and culture1 including ,spanish poet ,juan ,latino1 ,italian ,duke ,alessandro ,medici1 ,french novelist ,alexandre ,dumas1 ,german scholar ,anthony ,william ,amo1 ,french ,composer ,le ,chevalier de ,st4 ,george1 ,british abolitionist ,oladuah ,equiano1 and ,russian ,general and ,governor ,abram ,hannibal1 great-grandfather of ,russian poet ,aleksandr ,pushkin2 ,whereas the largest estimated populations of ,black ,europeans can be found in ,france 7approximately #b1ejj1jjj71 the ,united ,kingdom 7approximately #a1ejj1jjj71 and the ,netherlands 7approximately #ejj1jjj71 in addition to sizeable populations in ,germany1 ,italy1 ,portugal1 ,sweden1 ,norway1 ,ireland1 ,russia1 ,switzerland1 ,spain1 ,belgium1 ,denmark1 and ,austria2 ,whereas the presence of ,blacks in ,europe can be traced to voluntary and forced migration resulting from the geographical proximity of ,europe to ,africa and the ,middle ,east1 including the transatlantic slave trade1 the colonization of ,africa and the ,caribbean1 ,african and ,african-,american military deployments1 the movement of refugees and asylum seekers1 and educational and other professional exchanges2 ,whereas although ,black ,europeans have made significant achievements in and contributions to ,european society1 large numbers have and continue to be more likely than the general population to experience discrimination and be underrepresented in leadership roles in the public and private sector as a result of the color of their skin and ancestry2 ,whereas racism has long been1 and continues to be1 a problem in ,europe2 ,whereas1 on ,april #bi1 #bjjh1 before the ,commission on ,security and ,cooperation in ,europe1 at a hearing entitled ,the ,state of 7,in7visible ,black ,europe3 ,race1 ,rights1 and ,politics1 ,dr4 ,philomena ,essed stated1 ,probably the only common ,european experience among many1 if not all1 ,afro-descendants is their exposure to ''' racism and systemic discrimination1 regardless of country1 socio-economic conditions1 gender1 age1 or level of education42 ,whereas1 as early as #aiig1 the ,european ,commission opinion poll entitled ,racism and ,xenophobia in ,europe reported a worrying level of racism and xenophobia in ,european ,union member states1 with nearly #cc of those interviewed openly describing themselves as quite racist or very racist42 ,whereas annual reports of the ,european ,union ,fundamental ,rights ,agency 7,,eufra7 and both the #bjji and #bjah ,european ,union ,minorities and ,discrimination ,survey 7,,eu-,,midis ,i and ,,ii71 the first ,european ,union-wide surveys of ethnic minority and immigrant groups' experiences of discrimination and victimization in everyday life in the #bh member states of the ,european ,union1 found that persons of ,african descent experience high incidents of discriminatory treatment1 racist crime1 and victimization1 and lacked an awareness of their rights1 often underreporting cases of hate crimes and other forms of discrimination to law enforcement and human rights agencies1 and that the situation has not drastically improved in the years between the two reports2 ,whereas1 in ,november #bjah1 the ,european ,union ,fundamental ,rights ,agency 7,,eufra7 launched ,being ,black in the ,,eu3 ,second ,european ,union ,minorities and ,discrimination ,survey1 and called for member states to develop specific solutions and guidance to address findings that #cj percent of respondents had been racially harassed1 #e percent physically attacked1 #be percent discriminated against at work or when looking for work1 up to #gf percent faced unemployment in some countries1 and were experiencing high rates of discrimination in housing and in the justice system1 including profiling by law enforcement2 ,whereas the ,organization for ,security and ,cooperation in ,europe ,office for ,democratic ,institutions and ,human ,rights' 7,,osce_/,,odihr7 most recent #bjag hate crimes report found more than #a1fjh racist and xenophobic incidents1 including a number targeting ,black ,europeans1 while ,,osce reports in previous years found a number of deaths and violent assaults against people of ,african origin1 and that persons of ,african descent are often targets of racist and antimigrant violence1 especially in ,eastern ,europe1 yet in many countries hate crimes are underreported and1 legal assistance and financial support for victims while recovering from violent attacks does not exist2 ,whereas prejudice and discrimination toward ,black ,europeans has also been linked to changes in immigration and asylum laws as a result of antiterrorism initiatives and the growth and mainstreaming of nationalist and anti-immigrant political parties and groups1 including neo-,nazis and skinheads2 ,whereas the ,open ,society ,justice ,initiative in an initial #bjji report1 entitled ,ethnic ,profiling in the ,european ,union1 and subsequent reports have found that police officers in the ,united ,kingdom1 ,france1 ,italy1 ,germany1 and the ,netherlands routinely use racial profiling1 including targeting ,african descendants1 when deciding whom to target for stops1 searches1 raids1 and surveillance1 leading to some of the first ,europeanwide grassroots and legal efforts to end racial profiling in ,france1 ,germany1 and elsewhere in ,europe1 and over a decade of pan-,european antiracism and empowerment initiatives supported by ,open ,society ,foundations2 ,whereas there have been numerous efforts by the public and private sector to address racial discrimination and inequality in ,europe1 including the introduction of antidiscrimination and equality laws that include the legal support for special measures or positive 7affirmative7 action1 creation of equality bodies1 media campaigns1 and efforts to increase minority political participation1 and campaigns to end the use of stereotypes and derogatory terms to refer to ,blacks in everyday language1 the media1 and textbooks2 ,whereas these efforts include the ,united ,nations designation of #bjaa as the ,international ,year for ,people of ,african ,descent and #bjae-bjbd the ,international ,decade for ,people of ,african ,descent in an effort to strengthen national actions to ensure that people of ,african descent enjoy economic1 cultural1 social1 civil1 and political rights1 as well as promote a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture2 ,whereas these efforts also include the ,,osce ,parliamentary ,assembly's 7,,pa7 adoption of ,resolutions3 ,a ,call for ,,osce ,action to ,address ,violence and ,discrimination in #bjaf1 ,addressing ,racism and ,xenophobia ,affecting ,people of ,african ,descent in the ,,osce ,region in #bjab1 and ,strengthening ,efforts to ,combat ,racism and ,xenophobia and ,foster ,inclusion in #bjaa that included recognition of the ,international ,year for ,people of ,african ,descent1 and calling for the ,,osce to implement several strategic initiatives to address racial and ethnic discrimination in the ,,osce region2 ,whereas1 in #bjaa1 ,,osce_/,,odihr held its first ,roundtable on the contemporary forms of racism and xenophobia affecting ,peoples of ,african ,descent in the ,,osce region1 and has since annually hosted antidiscrimination initiatives focused on ,people of ,african ,descent including focused on hate crimes1 women1 political participation1 strengthening civil society1 and other issues2 ,whereas these efforts also include transatlantic meetings of ,black and other diverse legislators held annually at the ,european ,parliament in ,brussels1 ,belgium1 and in the ,united ,states ,congress in ,washington1 ,,dc1 including the ,april #ag-ai1 #bjji1 ,black ,european ,summit3 ,transatlantic ,dialogue on ,political ,participation and adoption of the ,brussels ,declaration on political participation2 and subsequent ,transatlantic ,minority ,political ,leadership ,conferences2 ,whereas1 as part of the ,march #bd1 #bjaa1 ,transatlantic ,minority ,political ,leadership ,conference 7,,tmplc71 legislators and minority leaders from ,north ,america and ,europe held a ,parliamentary ,forum at the ,european ,parliament in ,brussels1 ,belgium1 to discuss a ,joint ,action ,plan on ,racial and ,ethnic ,equality and ,inclusion between the ,european ,union and ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 in #bjaa1 ,members of the ,transatlantic ,minority ,political ,leadership ,conference worked in partnership with the ,german ,marshall ,fund1 the ,department of ,state1 and other stakeholders to found the ,transatlantic ,inclusion ,leaders ,network 7,,tiln7 to increase diverse representation in policymaking2 ,whereas1 in ,october #bjac1 ,european ,parliamentarians in partnership with the ,european ,network ,against ,racism 7,,enar7 held 7,in7visible ,diversity a series of debates in the ,european ,parliament1 including a debate entitled1 ,people of ,african ,descent and ,black ,europeans3 ,realities of ,afrophobia and in #bjae released the first pan-,european policy guide reviewing the current situation entitled1 ,,enar ,anti-,racism in ,focus #b - ,invisible,visible ,minority3 ,confronting ,afrophobia and ,advancing ,equality for ,people of ,african ,descent and ,black ,europeans in ,europe2 ,whereas1 in ,january #bjag1 the ,european ,network ,against ,racism published1 ,towards an ,,eu ,framework for ,national ,strategies to ,combat ,afrophobia and ,promote ,inclusion of ,people of ,african ,descent and ,black ,europeans to urge ,,eu member states to adopt strong and specific policies to address ,afrophobia1 including its structural dimensions and impact on economic and social outcomes for people of ,african descent and ,black ,europeans1 including in employment1 housing1 education1 health1 political participation1 criminal justice and other sectors2 ,whereas1 on ,july #be1 #bjag1 the ,council of ,europe ,commissioner for ,human ,rights stated1 ,the position of ,black people in ,europe needs to be strengthened1 irrespective of whether it concerns recent migrants from ,africa or already established ,black communities ''' ,european states must first come to terms with their own past including publicly acknowledge that slavery1 the slave trade and colonialism are among the major sources of current discrimination against ,black people41 and recommended ,european states implement strategies across health1 education1 justice1 employment1 and other sectors2 ,whereas1 in ,october #bjag1 the ,united ,kingdom ,prime ,minister released the ,race ,disparity ,audit examining how people of different backgrounds are treated across areas including health1 education1 employment and the criminal justice system1 which found inequalities in education1 housing1 income and employment1 justice1 and health between persons of ,african and ,caribbean background and others1 and has since published the findings online1 appointed a ,special ,advisor1 created a ,race ,disparity ,advisory ,group1 and announced #ij million ,british pounds to implement strategies to address disparities found by the audit2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 ,polish ,sejm member ,killion ,munyama1 ,rapporteur of the ,parliamentary ,assembly of the ,council of ,europe ,committee on ,equality and ,non-,discrimination authored measures that were adopted on ,promoting diversity and equality in politics that identified challenges to political participation faced by visible minorities and due to skin color2 ,whereas1 on ,may #ac through #ag1 #bjah1 the ,european ,parliament and ,european ,economic and ,social ,committee1 under the leadership of ,european ,parliamentarian ,cecile ,kyenge of ,italy1 hosted the inaugural ,people of ,african ,descent ,week 7,,pad ,week7 in ,brussels1 ,belgium1 in partnership with the ,european ,parliament ,anti-,racism and ,diversity ,intergroup 7,,ardi71 ,transatlantic ,minority ,political ,leadership ,conference 7,,tmplc71 ,each ,one ,teach ,one 7,,eoto71 the ,european ,network ,against ,racism 7,,enar71 and supported by congressional ,members of the ,united ,states ,helsinki ,commission2 ,whereas ,,pad ,week featured over a hundred experts1 activists1 and policymakers to increase awareness of people of ,african descent living in ,europe and to discuss solutions to address the racial discrimination and violence they face2 ,whereas ,member of the ,european ,parliament ,cecile ,kyenge stated1 ,in addition to honouring the history and contribution of ,europe's ,black population1 the ,people of ,african ,descent ,week reaffirms ,european values by developing strategic and coherent responses to make our society more inclusive in the face of rising racial prejudice and violence across ,europe42 ,whereas ,,pad ,week final recommendations call on ,european ,union institutions and national governments to specifically adopt a set of initiatives for ,black ,europeans1 including-- 7#a7 recognize past injustices and contributions2 adopt a ,european ,black ,history ,month and ,remembrance ,day for ,victims of ,colonialism and ,enslavement2 7#b7 fund ,black ,european led initiatives to address continuing disparities and discrimination1 and support empowerment initiatives through the creation of caucuses1 civil society funds1 and fellowships2 7#c7 adopt a ,parliamentary ,resolution and ,,eu ,framework for ,national ,strategies for ,inclusion of ,people of ,african ,descent in ,europe2 and 7#d7 support transatlantic exchanges to support common solutions to common issues of racial prejudice and discrimination2 and ,whereas in addition to ,,eu institutions affiliated with ,,pad ,week1 international entities1 such as the ,,osce ,personal ,representative on ,combating ,racism1 ,xenophobia and ,discrimination and ,,osce_/,,odihr ,tolerance and ,non-,discrimination ,unit1 ,,eufra1 the ,,coe ,human ,rights ,commissioner and ,,ecri1 and the ,united ,nations ,committee on the ,elimination of ,racial ,discrimination1 ,special ,rapporteur on ,contemporary ,forms of ,racism1 ,independent ,expert on ,minority ,issues1 and ,experts ,working ,group on ,people of ,african ,descent1 have documented ongoing racism and xenophobia1 and racial and ethnic discrimination1 and called for an increase in initiatives to combat racism and inequality and foster inclusion3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 encourages the recognition and celebration of the collective history and achievements made by people of ,african descent2 7#b7 reaffirms the importance of inclusion and the full and equal participation of people of ,african descent around the world in all aspects of political1 economic1 social1 and cultural life2 7#c7 recognizes that1 as a result of their skin color and ancestry1 many ,black ,europeans have wrongfully experienced injustices in the public and private sector2 7#d7 welcomes parliamentary activities1 including those of the ,european ,parliament 7,,ep71 ,organization for ,security and ,cooperation in ,europe 7,,osce7 ,parliamentary ,assembly1 ,parliamentary ,assembly of the ,council of ,europe 7,,pace71 and ,united ,states ,congress1 to engage in efforts to promote racial equality and combat racial discrimination through efforts such as introducing legislation1 speaking out against racism1 increasing the political participation of diverse populations through initiatives such as the ,transatlantic ,minority ,political ,leadership ,conference and ,transatlantic ,inclusion ,leaders ,network1 and working with ,black ,european and other diverse communities to develop relevant policies2 7#e7 urges ,european governments and members of civil society and the private sector1 in consultation with ,black ,european communities1 to develop and implement initiatives to combat racial discrimination and promote racial equality and inclusion in ,europe1 by-- 7,a7 drafting and implementing an ,,eu ,framework for ,national ,strategies to ,promote ,inclusion of and ,combat ,discrimination towards ,people of ,african ,descent and ,black ,europeans2 7,b7 drafting and implementing anti-discrimination1 special measures1 hate crimes1 migration and integration1 inclusion1 and other laws and policies to address discrimination and disparities and promote equality1 noting the recommendations of the ,united ,nations ,committee on the ,elimination of ,racial ,discrimination1 the ,experts ,working ,group on ,people of ,african ,descent 7,,wgpad71 the ,european ,union ,fundamental ,rights ,agency 7,,eufra71 the ,united ,nations ,special ,rapporteur on ,contemporary ,forms of ,racism and ,independent ,expert on ,minority ,issues1 ,council of ,europe ,human ,rights ,commissioner and ,european ,commission against ,racism and ,intolerance 7,,ecri71 and the ,,osce ,personal ,representative on ,combating ,racism1 ,xenophobia and ,discrimination and ,,osce_/,,odihr ,tolerance and ,non-,discrimination ,unit2 7,c7 promoting and funding research1 including the collection of national census data on ,black ,europeans and its inclusion in the annual reports of the ,,eufra and other official reporting at the ,,eu and national levels2 7,d7 providing technical support1 training1 and funding to ,black ,european civil society and private sector groups and experts working to combat racism1 discrimination1 and inequality1 uphold basic human rights in ,europe1 and to increase economic opportunity and empowerment2 7,e7 introducing national measures to counter stereotypical images of persons of ,african descent1 by revising textbooks1 increasing efforts to include ,black ,europeans in history and heritage institutions1 and remembering victims of colonialism1 enslavement1 and other atrocities2 7,f7 developing or increasing financial support for funds to assist victims of hate crimes with legal assistance and compensation when incapacitated due to physical or emotional injuries2 7,g7 developing specific initiatives that address the special concerns of ,black ,european men1 women1 and youth1 including increasing initiatives related to migrants1 refugees1 and asylum seekers2 7,h7 actively promoting racial and ethnic representation and participation at all levels of national1 regional1 and local government through the education of civil and political rights1 including the legislative process and advocacy of legislative issues relevant to racial and ethnic communities1 development of targeted professional advancement and hiring strategies1 increased youth and community outreach1 and self-organization and other empowerment initiatives2 and 7,i7 recruiting1 training1 hiring1 and retaining ,black ,europeans for professional positions in support of these initiatives2 7#f7 urges the ,secretary of ,state and ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development 7,,usaid7 to-- 7,a7 provide technical assistance and other support for ,european governments and members of the civil society and private sector to fulfill the initiatives described above1 including by expanding ,united ,states ,government efforts with the ,,osce to increase the capacity of members of ,african ,descent communities to address discrimination2 7,b7 increase support for the ,,wgpad and ,international ,decade for ,people of ,african ,descent2 and 7,c7 by establishing a ,global ,office of ,african ,descent ,affairs within the ,department of ,state headed by senior officials to develop and implement global foreign policy and assistance strategies to improve the situation of people of ,african descent around the world1 create a ,department of ,state ,fund to support antidiscrimination and empowerment efforts by ,african descent led civil society organizations around the world1 and include a section on discrimination faced by people of ,african descent in the ,department of ,state's ,annual ,country ,reports ,human ,rights ,practices1 and working with ,,usaid and other ,united ,states ,government agencies to implement the strategy2 7#g7 supports the adoption of a ,joint ,action ,plan on ,racial and ,ethnic ,equality and ,inclusion between the ,european ,union and ,united ,states modeled after similar ,united ,states agreements with ,colombia and ,brazil1 and implementation of the ,,osce ,parliamentary ,assembly ,resolutions on ,people of ,african ,descent and addressing racial and xenophobic violence and discrimination to assist in fulfilling the initiatives above2 and 7#h7 urges the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of ,,usaid to provide a report to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate on ,department of ,state and ,,usaid efforts to address global racial and ethnic discrimination1 including any funding efforts or international exchange opportunities for civil society4