{"id":1523,"date":"2014-02-04T13:23:38","date_gmt":"2014-02-04T11:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.europewatchdog.info\/?page_id=1523"},"modified":"2025-03-21T09:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T08:25:13","slug":"racism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.europewatchdog.info\/en\/instruments\/expert-bodies\/racism\/","title":{"rendered":"Commission against Racism (ECRI)"},"content":{"rendered":"

ECRI – European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

ECRI is the most important instrument in the Council of Europe’s<\/a><\/em><\/strong> fight against all forms of racism, discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance.<\/p>\n

ECRI was not created as a monitoring-mechanism<\/a><\/em><\/strong> for a specific treaty<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, but as an independent body: It was founded in 1993, following a decision taken by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe’s member states at their Vienna summit that year.<\/p>\n

As such, ECRI was a major stakeholder in the elaboration of Protocol No. 12<\/a><\/em><\/strong> to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, which provides for a general prohibition of discrimination.
\n 
\nStructure and Organisation<\/strong>
\n 
\n\"\"<\/a>ECRI consists of one autonomous expert per Council of Europe member State. Typically, the experts are lawyers, judges, journalists, academics, ombudspersons, or other professionals with recognised expertise in dealing with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance.<\/p>\n

The experts are appointed by the government of their respective country for a five-year term of office, twice renewable. Candidates can be rejected by the Committee of Ministers<\/a><\/em><\/strong> of the Council of Europe <\/a><\/em><\/strong>if they do not fulfil the criteria set out in ECRI’s Statute.<\/p>\n

ECRI holds three plenary meetings a year. Its annual report to the Committee of Ministers<\/a><\/em><\/strong> contains all its activities and is available to the public.<\/p>\n

The Bureau<\/em> acts as a board to ECRI. It consists of the Chair, two Vice-Chairs and four members. It is assisted in all matters by a Secretariat, headed by an Executive Secretary.<\/p>\n

 
\nMandate<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the legal basis of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)<\/a><\/em><\/strong> ECRI is tasked with:<\/p>\n