EU wants to Denmark to axe contentious ‘Jewellery Law’

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance lists 24 areas needing improvement

May 16, 2017

Denmark’s efforts to toughen up its immigration legislation in recent years have not gone unnoticed abroad, at least not by the EU.

In a new report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) deplored Denmark’s recent decision to implement more stringent family reunification laws and called for the government to scrap the controversial ‘Jewellery Law’, which targets asylum seekers and was passed last year.

“Tightening rules for family reunification increases the danger of minors being separated from their families for indefinite periods of time and makes them more vulnerable to trafficking and sexual abuse,” said Thorbjørn Jagland, the secretary general of the Council of Europe.

24 recommendations
In the report (here in English) the ECRI had a long list of recommendations for Denmark, including adjusting its integration program, having better dialogue with minority groups and producing a Roma-centric strategy. (see all 24 recommendations below).

Two in particular were deemed to be of the highest priority by ECRI and ought to be implemented within the next two years.

Those are for a comprehensive data collection system for racist and homo-/transphobic hate speech incidents to be set up, and putting an end to the ethnic segregation at Langkær school in Aarhus and preventing any such practices in Danish schools in the future.

The report also indicated that racist hate speech, particularly against Muslims, should be curbed, while data collection for hate crime incidents should be improved.