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Reducing Ethnic Profiling in the European Union - Open Society ...

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Non-discrim<strong>in</strong>ation obligations should cover all law enforcement officials, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gpolic<strong>in</strong>g anti-terrorism, customs and immigration functions.Laws and regulations govern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> actions of all law enforcement officers mustbe <strong>in</strong> accordance with non-discrim<strong>in</strong>ation standards and must be consistent andcoherent;An explicit prohibition of discrim<strong>in</strong>ation, cover<strong>in</strong>g both direct and <strong>in</strong>direct discrim<strong>in</strong>ation,should be <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> all relevant legislation govern<strong>in</strong>g law enforcement<strong>in</strong>terventions;Legislation should create positive obligations on law enforcement authorities toaddress discrim<strong>in</strong>atory practices and ensure equal law enforcement outcomes;Legal standards should support judicial remedies and public report<strong>in</strong>g on stepstaken to meet positive obligations to advance equal treatment.Codes of ConductLegal prohibitions and requirements need to be supported by clear operational guidanceon how to use law enforcement powers <strong>in</strong> a fair and neutral manner. Most importantly,guidance should explicitly prohibit <strong>the</strong> use of ethnicity, religion, and national orig<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong> target<strong>in</strong>g persons for suspicion and <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> requirement that law enforcementofficers base <strong>the</strong>ir decisions on reasonable suspicion.General pr<strong>in</strong>ciples of non-discrim<strong>in</strong>ation for law enforcement officers are oftenset out <strong>in</strong> codes of conduct. Breaches of <strong>the</strong>se codes of conduct provide grounds for<strong>in</strong>ternal <strong>in</strong>vestigations and adm<strong>in</strong>istrative discipl<strong>in</strong>e.The French National Police Code of Conduct discussed below applies to immigrationand anti-terrorism services as well as domestic police. The Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Irish andAustrian codes set out similar standards. As noted <strong>in</strong> several of <strong>the</strong> case studies, codesof conduct are not always rigorously enforced. The failure to enforce non-discrim<strong>in</strong>ationstandards set out <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> organizations’ own regulations sends a powerful and damag<strong>in</strong>gmessage about <strong>in</strong>stitutional values.38 LEGAL STANDARDS AND INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES TO ADDRESS ETHNIC PROFILING

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