The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) held its 2026 Annual Seminar with Equality Bodies on 15–16 October in Strasbourg, in cooperation with the European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet) and the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The event brought together representatives of equality bodies, civil society, academia and European and international bodies and institutions to examine how hateful and discriminatory narratives in political and other public discourse affect equality, public trust and democratic participation, and to explore practical responses.

When opening the seminar, ECRI’s Chair Bertil Cottier warned against the trivialisation of racist, anti-LGBTI and other forms of hate speech in political and other public discourse. “There is a serious issue in democracy when hate and contempt become ordinary.” He stressed the importance of safeguarding the independence of equality bodies, providing them with sufficient resources and ensuring that they can speak publicly without undue political interference.

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset placed action against racism and intolerance at the heart of democratic security in Europe. “Racism and intolerance are the real risk to democratic security.” He warned that the “normalisation” of hateful narratives can make discrimination easier to justify and discourage people from participating in public life. Highlighting the role of equality bodies in recognising early warning signs and acting before hatred becomes normalised, he stressed that democratic security begins with institutions people can trust and laws that protect everyone equally.

In a video message, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty highlighted the fear, exclusion and violence caused by hatred, together with widespread under-reporting linked to a lack of confidence in public authorities. He called for better data collection, stronger responses to hate expressed by political figures and adequate resources for equality bodies. Emphasising the need for meaningful participation, he stressed that “whatever we do we must do it not for but with the impacted communities.”

The opening session also included remarks by ECRI’s Second Vice-Chair Tena Šimonović Einwalter. A scene-setting intervention by Varun Uberoi, Reader in Political Theory and Public Policy at Loughborough University (United Kingdom), explored majority–minority relations and concerns surrounding cultural identity, providing a basis for the subsequent exchanges.

The first day’s working groups reviewed issues relating to racism against Roma and Travellers, antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism, LGBTI-phobia and xenophobia in politics and public discourse. Institutional experiences and personal testimonies brought the human consequences of hateful or discriminatory narratives into the discussions, alongside questions about when equality bodies should intervene and which tools they can use effectively.

The discussion on racism against Roma and Travellers highlighted connections between entrenched prejudice, institutional practices and structural forms of discrimination in education, healthcare and housing. Examples illustrated the importance of identifying wider patterns, cooperating with affected communities and civil society, and taking follow-up action to implement the recommendations and decisions of equality bodies and European and international monitoring bodies on the one hand and the relevant judgments of national and European courts on the other hand in order to secure changes in practice.

The second day moved from analysis to practical action. A session organised by Equinet focused on communicating in hostile environments, drawing on experiences from equality bodies and small-group work on practical scenarios. Participants explored proactive and reactive communication approaches, including how to respond publicly without amplifying harmful narratives and how communication can complement legal and institutional actions.

Two parallel workshops addressed strategic litigation, effective remedies and accountability, and the challenges of operating in polarised political environments. The exchanges considered how equality bodies can help ensure that relevant judicial decisions produce meaningful change, while maintaining their independence, credibility and ability to engage in public debate.

The seminar concluded with a call to continue the exchanges through cooperation between equality bodies, ECRI, Equinet, CERD and other partners, drawing on the experiences shared to counter hate and strengthen equality in practice.