Opening Session

Welcome remarks by the:

• Chair of ECRI,
• Representative(s) of the Council of Europe
• Representative of the Commission of the European Union (EU)

The session will introduce the institutional cooperation behind the seminar and the central objective of examining how equality bodies can respond to hateful and discriminatory narratives in political and other public discourse.

Scene-setting Intervention

Manufacturing Belonging vs. Promoting Equality, Inclusion and Democratic Resilience

Format: 20-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with participants.

Purpose: to frame the links between political polarisation, democratic resilience and the protection of groups already exposed to racism and intolerance, including how narratives portraying groups as threats to national security, identity or cohesion can contribute to racism, intolerance and related discrimination.

Speaker: TBC

• Which hateful and discriminatory narratives are most visible in current political and other public discourse?
• How do online platforms and media ecosystems amplify these narratives?
• What early warning signs should equality bodies monitor?
• What kinds of public intervention to counter such narratives are effective, and where are the risks?

Expected result by the end of Day 1

A shared map of recurring narratives affecting various groups, early warning signs and practical examples from equality bodies.

These points will feed directly into Friday morning's recap and action-oriented discussion.

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

Round 1 - 15:20-16:30

Examines how anti-Roma and anti-Traveller political and other narratives in the public sphere reinforce stereotypes, influence negative attitudes of the general population and may affect policy responses in various areas such as education, health, housing and employment at national, regional or local levels of governance.

Representatives of equality bodies, Roma and Traveller civil society organisations, regional or local authorities, and other Council of Europe bodies or services promoting equal treatment and inclusion of Roma and Travellers .

• How do political narratives targeting Roma and Traveller communities influence national, regional or local policies or administrative practices?
• What role can equality bodies play in challenging entrenched stereotypes and structural discrimination?
• How can equality bodies work with authorities to counter hateful or discriminatory narratives in political and other public discourse?

Working Group 2 | Antisemitism in Politics and Public Discourse

Round 1 - 15:20-16:30

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

Representatives of equality bodies, Jewish community organisations, civil society and media monitoring organisations, independent specialists, and other Council of Europe bodies or services dealing with antisemitism.

• How does antisemitic rhetoric manifest itself in contemporary political and other public discourse?
• What challenges arise when antisemitic narratives are linked to highly polarised debates, disinformation or international events?
• What tools can equality bodies use to support affected communities and promote effective responses?

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

Round 1 - 15:20-16:30

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.

Representatives of equality bodies, Muslim community organisations, civil society and media monitoring organisations, independent specialists, and other Council of Europe bodies or services dealing with anti-Muslim racism.

• What forms of anti-Muslim rhetoric have equality bodies observed in political and other public discourse?
• How can equality bodies respond when hateful or discriminatory narratives intersect with debates on national security, identity or cohesion and migration?
• What strategies have proven effective in supporting affected Muslim communities and countering anti-Muslim narratives?

Coffee Break

Informal exchange and transition between working group rounds.

Working Group 5 | Xenophobia in Political and Other Public Discourse

Round 2 - 17:00-18:00

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.

Representatives of equality bodies, migrant-led organisations, civil society actors, independent specialists, or other relevant Council of Europe bodies or services.

• How do hateful or discriminatory political narratives affect the equal treatment and inclusion of migrants and persons with a migration background?
• How can equality bodies counter xenophobic discourse, including where it intersects with racism against people of African descent or public debates on insecurity?
• What role can equality bodies play in ensuring that debates on migration remain grounded in human rights and equality standards?

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

Round 2 - 17:00-18:00

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 rhetorics linked to legal gender recognition.

Representatives of equality bodies, LGBTI civil society organisations, independent specialists and other Council of Europe bodies or services dealing with LGBTI equality.

• How do political and other campaigns targeting LGBTI persons affect their human rights, safety and participation in public life?
• What institutional responses are available to equality bodies?
• How can equality bodies engage constructively without being drawn into controversies in the political sphere, in the media or online?

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.

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.

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?

Practical Session organised by EQUINET

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

This practical session will focus on communication and public engagement as key elements of equality bodies' institutional responses to hateful and discriminatory narratives in political and other public discourse.

It will explore how equality bodies can communicate effectively and responsibly in polarised contexts, respond to harmful narratives without amplifying them, build trust with targeted communities, and use communication strategically alongside legal, policy and institutional tools.

Representatives of EQUINET and equality bodies, and communication experts from equality bodies.

• When and how should equality bodies intervene publicly in response to hateful or discriminatory rhetorics?
• How can equality bodies communicate without amplifying harmful narratives?
• How can public engagement complement legal, policy and institutional responses?

EQUINET session flow

Coffee 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.

Follow-up Action Session - Participants will consider whether the Day 1 outcomes could be translated into practical “signal cards” [or tools] for equality bodies

From Practical Exchange to Follow-up Action

This session will build on the discussions from Day 1 and the EQUINET practical session to identify possible follow-up tools or coordinated action.

Participants will consider whether the Day 1 outcomes could be translated into practical signal cards for equality bodies. These could identify warning signs of hateful and discriminatory narratives and suggest possible institutional responses.

Representatives of equality bodies, ECRI, EQUINET and CERD, as well as other participants.

• Early warning signs in political and other public discourse.
• Communication responses by equality bodies.
• Cooperation with civil society, media actors and public authorities.
• Support for victims and affected communities.
• Protection of equality bodies' independence, expertise and reputation.

Warning signs

A practical tool to help equality bodies recognise when hateful and discriminatory narratives are escalating in political, media or online environments.

• Which narratives are becoming trivialised or repeated by influential actors?
• Which groups are being framed as threats to national security, identity or cohesion?
• What online or media dynamics indicate possible amplification or mobilisation?

Institutional responses

A practical tool to help equality bodies consider proportionate responses, including public communication, cooperation, victim support, policy advice or legal action.

• What response is appropriate: monitoring, outreach, cooperation, public statement, recommendation, litigation?
• How can the equality body communicate without amplifying harmful or discriminatory narratives?
• Which partners should be involved and how can affected communities be supported?

Reporting Back and Possible Shared Commitments

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.

• A short set of communication principles for equality bodies in hostile environments.
• Practical dos and don'ts for responding to hateful and discriminatory narratives.
• Signal Cards on early warning signs and possible institutional responses.
• A coordinated follow-up commitment or shared position.
• Continued exchange of good practices between equality bodies.

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.