Maria Yordanova

Center for the Study of Democracy · Law Programme

The EU funded project RACCOMBAT meets the necessity to seek tools and mechanisms to prevent and combat racism and xenophobia against non-nationals throughout their whole integration in society. An important part of that process is social orientation supposed to ensure that participants build in well in host societies to their own and society’s benefit. Integration and orientation should take place in full observance of fundamental rights and legal obligations of all parties. Thus, participants should be given knowledge about those and the acts of hatred they may encounter, learn to recognise such acts and be aware of all legal tools offered by the host state.

ARISA is a EU funded project to investigate the consequences to people's personal lives when accused of committing a crime. ARISA explores what happens to a person suspected of or charged with a criminal offence. Anyone accused of doing something wrong is presumed innocent until otherwise is proven in court. In practice, however, people accused of committing a crime often suffer the negative consequences of this crime even before the court decides on their guilt. As a result of the criminal investigation, suspects can lose their job, family, social standing and many more. Last but not least, the participation in the investigation itself may lead in additional expenses in terms of both time and money. In this context, ARISA’s goal is to identify all these factors, explore their harmful impact on the suspects and accused, and enable authorities to reduce this impact without affecting the investigation.