Ukrainians are treated better than other war-displaced people, says the Council of Europe

Ukrainians who fled their homes to escape the Russian invasion have been treated better than those displaced by other ongoing wars and emergencies, Europe’s top human rights group said on Thursday, calling on member states to support everyone equally.

In its annual report, the Council of Europe’s anti-racism committee (ECRI) said there had been “remarkable efforts” to support Ukrainians since the start of the war in February 2022.

However, he said that the treatment of people from Ukraine differed according to their nationality.

For example, the living conditions offered to Roma with Ukrainian citizenship were of lower quality than those offered to other Ukrainians in the same situation, ECRI said.

Shortly after the war began, the African Union said it was disturbed by reports of African citizens in Ukraine not being allowed to cross the border safely.

Significant differences have also been observed between the quality of reception centers and services provided to Ukrainians compared to refugees and asylum seekers from elsewhere, ECRI added.

“The new normal should be to welcome all people from everywhere, as Ukrainians (were welcomed),” Johan Fristed, ECRI’s executive secretary, told a news conference.

Asked if there was more solidarity with Ukrainians because most of them were white, ECRI president Bertil Cottier said: “When people are more or less like you, it’s always easier.”

ECRI said that all displaced persons, regardless of their nationality, skin color or religion, should be offered adequate protection and support.

According to ECRI, incidents of anti-Ukrainian hatred have been reported, but overall the public discourse remained one of solidarity and support, and hostile narratives, including political ones, were more prevalent against people from other parts of the world.

There are approximately 6 million displaced Ukrainians across Europe.

The report also said the number of anti-Muslim hate incidents has increased since the October 7 attack.

“Muslims took responsibility for the attack…based on stereotypes of entire communities and their perceived associations with the use of violence,” ECRI said.

Several European countries have also experienced an increase in anti-Semitism, from hate speech, including death threats, and acts of vandalism of Jewish sites to physical attacks against Jews.

“While criticism of Israel cannot be considered anti-Semitic per se, calling for the killing of Jews is,” ECRI said.