COPENHAGEN, 10 April 2015 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin, today expressed deep concern over the fatal shooting of Walter Scott by a police officer on 4 April in the U.S. state of South Carolina.

"The video depicting the tragic shooting of Walter Scott, an unarmed African-American man, at the hands of law enforcement further demonstrates the necessity for a full review of the inequalities in the U.S. justice system," Special Representative Cardin said.

"While I have long called for legislation to end racial profiling in my own country, issues of discriminatory policing also remain a problem throughout the OSCE area, from France to Russia. As we work to address issues of intolerance, we must be certain to also include those responsible for safeguarding and administering justice in our societies," he added.

In March, Senator Cardin was appointed to serve as the first Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance in the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly, which brings together lawmakers from the Organization's 57 participating States in Europe, North America and Central Asia. The newly established position strengthens the Assembly's efforts to counter prejudice and discrimination across the OSCE area.