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Opening Session

Welcome and opening remarks

• Bertil Cottier, Chair of ECRI and Tena Šimonović Einwalter, Second Vice-Chair of ECRI

• Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

• Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights (video message)

Scene-setting Intervention

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Declining Dominance - Understandable Yet Dangerous Majority Concerns

Tena Šimonović Einwalter, Second Vice-Chair of ECRI

Dr Varun Uberoi, Reader in Political Theory and Public Policy, International Relations, Politics and History - Loughborough University

Format: 30-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with participants.

Summary of talk: This talk makes four contributions. First, it questions recent scholarly concerns that ‘majority rights’, and the value of a majority national culture, are ignored by multiculturalism. Second, it clarifies how a ‘cultural majority’ and ‘multiculturalism’ are often conceptualised and related to each other to depict, third, other concerns about multiculturalism and a majority that require a government response. Fourth, it identifies this response in Bhikhu Parekh’s less well known pamphlets, lectures and essays, and their neglected vision of majority–minority relations. The concerns on this topic that require a government response are made clear, and ideas are recovered to depict this response.

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Working Group 4 | LGBTI-phobia in Politics and Public Discourse

Examines narratives in political and other public discourse portraying LGBTI equality as incompatible with “traditional” family values or the protection of children, as well as hateful or discriminatory rhetoric linked to sexual orientation, gender identity and legal gender recognition.

Christian Veske, Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner, Estonia.

• Personal Testimony - When a Date Became an Attack
• Kristijan Kevešević, Deputy Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, Croatia - Challenging Political Narratives Linking LGBTIQ Persons to Threats against Children.

Kristina Krockova, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights.

• What forms of LGBTI-phobic rhetoric are equality bodies observing in political and wider public discourse, including narratives framed around “traditional values”, family, children or legal gender recognition?
• How do such narratives affect the human rights, safety, equal treatment and participation in public life of LGBTI persons?
• When and how should equality bodies intervene in political, media or online controversies, including where harmful rhetoric may not cross the legal threshold?
• What practical approaches have proved effective in challenging LGBTI-phobic narratives, supporting affected communities and maintaining institutional independence, credibility and public trust?

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Working Group 2 | Antisemitism in Politics and Public Discourse

Explores various forms of antisemitic rhetoric, including conspiracy narratives, Holocaust denial or distortion and stereotyping, and the challenges of responding in polarised environments.

Wies Dinsbach, Netherlands Institute for Human Rights.

Ferda Ataman | Niklas Hofmann, Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (FADA), Germany - Impact of the Terrorist Attack of 7 October 2023 on Jewish and Israeli Communities in Germany.

• How does antisemitic rhetoric manifest itself in today’s political and other public discourse, and what recurring or emerging patterns are equality bodies observing?
• What particular challenges arise when antisemitic narratives become intertwined with highly polarised debates, disinformation or international events?
• When and how should equality bodies intervene, and what tools have proved effective in supporting affected communities and responding to antisemitic narratives?
• What lessons could be useful to other equality bodies, including in terms of cooperation, communication and maintaining public trust?

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Working Group 3 | Anti-Muslim Racism in Politics and Public Discourse

Addresses anti-Muslim hatred in debates on migration, security, national identity and social cohesion, and considers equality body responses when such narratives intersect with broader political debates.

Irene Kitsou-Milonas, Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General on antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and all forms of religious intolerance.

Patrick Charlier, Director of Unia, Belgium - Responding to Anti-Muslim Rhetoric That Does Not Cross the Legal Threshold.

Dominic Smales, Equality and Human Rights Commission, United Kingdom.

• What forms of anti-Muslim rhetoric are equality bodies observing in political and wider public discourse?
• How can equality bodies respond when hateful or discriminatory narratives are framed around national security, national identity, social cohesion or migration?
• When and how should an equality body intervene when harmful or discriminatory rhetoric does not cross the threshold for legal action?
• What practical approaches have proved effective in supporting affected Muslim communities, challenging anti-Muslim narratives and strengthening public trust?

Coffee Break

Informal exchange and transition between working group rounds.

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Working Group 1 | Racism against Roma and Travellers in Politics and Public Discourse

Examines how anti-Roma and anti-Traveller narratives in political and other public discourse reinforce stereotypes, influence negative attitudes among the general population and affect policy responses in education, health, housing and employment at national, regional or local levels. This working group has been prepared with the support of the Council of Europe’s Roma and Travellers Division.

Néphèli Yatropoulos,  Advisor on European and International affairs in the Cabinet of the Defender of Rights

• Two Personal Testimonies - Romania. Two testimonies will contribute personal perspectives to the discussion.
• Natasha Amdiju, Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, North Macedonia - Institutional contribution from the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination.

Robert Rustem, ECRI Secretariat

• How do political narratives targeting Roma and Traveller communities influence national, regional or local policies and administrative practices?
• What role can equality bodies play in challenging entrenched stereotypes, antigypsyism and structural discrimination?
• What approaches have proved effective when equality bodies engage with public authorities, political actors, the media or Roma and Traveller communities to counter hateful or discriminatory narratives?
• What lessons could be useful to other equality bodies, and what conditions or tools are needed for an effective response?

Sign-language interpretation will be provided during this working group.

17:15-18:30 | Round 2

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Working Group 5 | Xenophobia in Politics and Other Public Discourse

Considers how migrants and persons with a migration background are portrayed in political and other public discourse, including narratives linking immigration to insecurity and criminality, pressure on welfare systems or threats to national, regional or local identity.

Jasminka Džumhur, Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Victor Solomon, People’s Advocate Office, Republic of Moldova - Migration Narratives and Their Real-World Impact
• Geraldine McGahey OBE, Chief Commissioner, and Louise Conlon, Chief Executive, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland - Responding to Race-Related Unrest

Christopher Gambert, Policy Director for Equality in the Public Sector, Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud.

• What forms of xenophobic rhetoric targeting migrants and persons with a migration background are equality bodies observing, and how are they framed around insecurity, criminality, welfare, national identity or social cohesion?
• How do such narratives affect equal treatment, access to rights, inclusion and trust in public institutions?
• How can equality bodies respond where xenophobic narratives intersect with racism against people of African descent, anti-Muslim racism or other forms of racism and intolerance?
• What practical approaches have proved effective in challenging xenophobic narratives, supporting targeted communities and keeping public debate grounded in human rights and equality standards?

End of Day 1

Rapporteurs from each working group will be invited to submit short written key points to the Secretariat.

These points will feed into the opening recap on Friday morning.

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Opening Recap

From Day 1 Findings to Day 2 Action

The second day will open with a concise synthesis of the main messages emerging from the five working groups held on Day 1.

Rapporteurs will highlight common trends, early warning signs, challenges faced by equality bodies, and areas where practical tools or stronger cooperation may be needed.

Michael Whine, Chair of ECRI’s Working Group on relations with Civil Society and Equality Bodies

Rapporteurs from the Day 1 working groups, with support from the ECRI Secretariat.

• What common patterns emerged across the five working groups?
• Which early warning signs should equality bodies pay particular attention to?
• Which issues should feed into the practical and communication-focused discussion of Day 2?

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Practical Session organised by EQUINET

Equality Bodies Responding to Hateful and Discriminatory Narratives – Communicating in Hostile Environments

This practical session will explore how equality bodies can use communication and public engagement strategically when responding to hateful and discriminatory narratives. Drawing on practical experiences from equality bodies, participants will consider when and how to intervene publicly, how to avoid amplifying harmful narratives, and how communication can complement legal, policy and institutional responses.

Tamas Kádár, EQUINET

• Sandra Konstatzky, Equal Treatment Ombudsperson, Austria
• Dijana Kesonja, Office of the Ombudswoman, Croatia
• Christian Veske, Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner, Estonia

Participants will work on practical scenarios focusing on proactive and reactive communication strategies, including responses in the online environment.

• Chiara d’Agni, EQUINET
• Miglė Kolinytė, Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, Lithuania
• Niklas Hofmann, Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency (FADA), Germany

The session will conclude with a short plenary reporting-back and closing reflections by Patrick Charlier, EQUINET / Unia, Belgium.

Break and Networking

This networking break will allow participants to continue exchanges from the EQUINET session, identify possible cooperation opportunities and prepare for the follow-up action discussion.

Parallel Working Groups

Participants will choose between two parallel working groups focusing on practical challenges facing equality bodies: strengthening the effectiveness of anti-discrimination law and navigating increasingly polarised political environments.

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Working Group A | Strategic Litigation, Effective Remedies and Enforcement of Anti-Discrimination, Hate Speech and Hate Crime Legislation

This working group will explore how equality bodies can use strategic litigation and other enforcement tools to move beyond individual decisions and contribute to broader legal and institutional change. The discussion will consider how litigation can help address structural discrimination, strengthen remedies for victims, clarify legal standards and support the effective implementation of anti-discrimination, hate speech and hate crime legislation.

Johan Friestedt, Executive Secretary of ECRI, Council of Europe

• Michaela Moua, Coordinator of the European Commission on combating racism - Structural Racism and Structural Discrimination – Connecting the Anti-Racism Strategy to the Racial Equality Directive
• Genard Dylqeshi, Legal Adviser to the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, Albania - Beyond the Decision: Making Equality Law Effective

Participants will be invited to exchange experiences on the role of equality bodies in strategic litigation, the effectiveness of available remedies, and ways of ensuring that decisions lead to meaningful changes in practice.

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Working Group B | How to Deal with Polarisation in the Political Debate?

Equality bodies increasingly operate in political environments characterised by strong divisions and polarised public debate. Political disagreement is an essential part of democratic life; the challenge for equality bodies is how to maintain their independence, credibility and impact while navigating such environments.

The discussion will examine how equality bodies can respond when they themselves become part of a polarised debate or are portrayed as representing one side; whether institutional approaches or communication may sometimes unintentionally reinforce polarisation; and which interventions can help challenge “us-versus-them” dynamics and contribute to a more constructive public debate.

Tena Šimonović Einwalter, Second Vice-Chair of ECRI

Wies Dinsbach, Programme Manager Non-Discrimination, Netherlands Institute for Human Rights

Stamatia Stavrinaki, member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Participants will be invited to share concrete experiences, approaches and tools for safeguarding the role of equality bodies and engaging effectively in polarised political contexts.

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Feedback from the working groups: From Practical Exchange to Follow-up Action

Participants will return to plenary to identify the main conclusions from the follow-up action session. The discussion will focus on areas of convergence and possible next steps, including whether ECRI, EQUINET, CERD and equality bodies could continue working together after the seminar on a practical output.

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Closing Remarks

The closing session will summarise the main outcomes of the seminar and outline possible next steps for cooperation among equality bodies, ECRI, EQUINET and CERD.

• Bertil Cottier, Chair of ECRI
• Stamatia Stavrinaki, member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
• Patrick Charlier, Chair of Equinet

End of the Annual Seminar

Participants depart after the closing remarks.