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The Problem of Ethnic Profiling in Europe

Date:
May 2011
Source:
Open Society Justice Initiative

Throughout Europe, minorities and immigrant communities routinely report discriminatory treatment by the police, particularly in police decisions about whom to stop, question, search, and arrest.

The use by law enforcement officials of generalizations grounded in ethnicity, race, religion or national origin rather than objective evidence or individual behavior as the basis for determining who may have been involved in criminal activity is called ethnic profiling. It is ineffective, inefficient, and discriminatory.

An illegal practice, ethnic profiling stigmatizes entire groups of people as criminals, potential terrorists or irregular migrants, thereby legitimizing and reinforcing broader racial stereotypes.

This fact sheet discusses the concept of ethnic profiling, explains why it is a bad law enforcement practice, and summarizes the Open Society Justice Initiative’s efforts to combat it throughout Europe.

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The Problem of Ethnic Profiling in Europe
PDF Document - 139K
Download the 2-page fact sheet.

The Problem of Ethnic Profiling in Europe (Danish)
PDF Document - 236K
Download the 2-page fact sheet in Danish.

The Problem of Ethnic Profiling in Europe (Dutch)
PDF Document - 139K
Download the 2-page fact sheet in Dutch.

The Problem of Ethnic Profiling in Europe (French)
PDF Document - 143K
Download the 2-page fact sheet in French.

The Problem of Ethnic Profiling in Europe (Spanish)
PDF Document - 140K
Download the 2-page fact sheet in Spanish.

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