European parliamentarians launched a campaign against racism and intolerance here on Thursday.

The No Hate Parliamentary Alliance was formed by 36 politicians representing 30 different European countries in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE).

The campaign aims to take "open, firm and pro-active stands against racism, hatred and intolerance on whatever grounds and however they manifest themselves."

At the launch of the parliamentary alliance, PACE president Anne Brasseur invited her colleagues to "shout out" against all forms of intolerance.

"For several months, racist hate speech has taken on an alarming dimension," she said. "Xenophobia and intolerance today pose the most serious threat for the peaceful existence of our multicultural societies."

"Hate is a gangrene that eats away at our society," she concluded.

Also at the official launch, Council of Europe (CoE) deputy secretary-general, Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni said there was a wider issue with intolerance that also needed to be tackled.

"Racism and intolerance are residual creatures; they are evolving to survive," she commented during the launch.

"By joining together today we are taking a stand against all forms of racism and intolerance and so send a message to people that law makers are striving for a better society," she added.

Allied to the alliance is an ongoing CoE campaign, the No Hate Speech movement. This is particularly aimed at the internet and is designed to raise awareness about hate speech online and its risks for democracy and for individual young people.

CoE has been partnering with youth organisations to develop No Hate Speech and there are national campaigns in some 40 CoE member states.

The main activities of the Alliance will be at national levels. Parliamentarians who signed its founding charter have committed themselves to raising awareness of racism and intolerance among politicians and civil society. They will also exchange information on law and best practice in combating racism and hatred with parliamentarians from other countries. Endit

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