A/HRC/62/55/Add.1 of abuse, reporting to authorities remains low, driven by a lack of trust in public institutions, particularly law enforcement agencies, and a belief that acting will not lead to accountability or meaningful change. 30. The most recent “Being Black in the EU” survey published by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights mirrors the reports that the Special Rapporteur received. The Agency reported that people of African descent in Austria face some of the highest levels of racial discrimination in Europe. Respondents reported frequent manifestations of racial discrimination, including in job- seeking, the workplace, housing, education and healthcare, often at rates above the European Union average. The Agency also reported that Africans and people of African descent experienced racist harassment, insults and threats, including in school settings. The findings indicate that anti-Black racism in Austria is not only frequent but also structural, affecting multiple societal domains simultaneously. Moreover, the Agency’s report showed little evidence of improvement since previous surveys. 7 31. The Special Rapporteur noted with concern a seeming absence of measures targeted specifically towards addressing anti-Black racism. She is also deeply concerned by the lack of data about the situation of Africans and people of African descent in Austria. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that the mandate and work of different equality bodies encompass the equal treatment of Africans and people of African descent. However, it was not clear what specific measures the Government has been taking to prevent anti-Black racism or to address structural forms of such discrimination. There is a lack of both a specific strategy on promoting and protecting the rights of people of African descent and an overarching national action plan against racism that includes consideration of their needs. The Special Rapporteur urges Austria to significantly step up efforts to address the racial discrimination experienced by Africans and people of African descent. 4. Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism and anti-Palestinian racism 32. Stakeholders reported to the Special Rapporteur that the incidence of Islamophobia and related forms of racism has increased. She received reports of pervasive discrimination relating to housing, employment and access to public goods and services, as well as anti-Muslim bias in the healthcare system. The Special Rapporteur also heard shocking reports of Muslim women who wear headscarves being physically attacked and spat on in daily life and facing pervasive online abuse. Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism and anti-Palestinian racism have reportedly increased since 7 October 2023, in line with unacceptable global trends. Austrian election periods, which tend to invoke harmful rhetoric, were also described as being a major trigger for increasing Islamophobia and related racism. Such trends are exacerbated by a hostile media environment and the media’s persistent use of racist stereotypes depicting Muslims and Arabs, including Palestinians, as being dangerous. 33. These reports are consistent with the most recent relevant data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights regarding Islamophobia in Austria. According to the data, 71% of Muslims surveyed in Austria reported being targeted by racial discrimination and Islamophobia in their daily lives. This was the highest reported rate among the European Union countries included in the research. 8 In 2024, the Documentation and Counselling Center Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Racism documented a total of 1,336 anti-Muslim racist attacks taking place against Muslims and those perceived as Muslim. According to the Agency, only 3% of victims in Austria reported their experiences of discrimination to an official body. This low reporting rate persisted despite knowledge about the existence of legal protections and human rights organizations, reportedly because of a lack of trust that complaints would lead to meaningful change.9 7 8 9 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Being Black in the EU: Experiences of people of African descent (Vienna, 2024). European Union Agency for Fundamental Right, Being Muslim in the EU: Experiences of Muslims (Vienna, 2024). Documentation and Counselling Center Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Racism, “Anti-Muslim racism report 2024 – summary”, 2025. 9