Seminar of the Council of Europe’s Anti-racism Commission (ECRI) for national independent authorities combating racism and intolerance

 

Date: 23-24 May 2017

Venue: Strasbourg – Council of Europe, Agora.

Organised by: the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe.

Participants: representatives of member States’ independent authorities (specialised bodies) expressly entrusted with the fight against racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, intolerance and discrimination on grounds such as ethnic origin, colour, citizenship, religion and language (racial discrimination); members of ECRI; representatives of national Ombudspersons and national human rights institutions; as well as members of national parliaments, representatives of local authorities, European and international intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and networks.

Topic: Twenty years after the adoption of the original version of GPR No. 2 in 1997, ECRI decided to revise its text in order to include the experience and the many good practices that have developed during this time. The revised text shall help to further strengthen specialised bodies, which are vital for advancing equality and for eliminating racism and intolerance in a sustained manner.

Main aim: The seminar aimed at discussing the draft developed by ECRI’s working group with specialised bodies and to include their experience and standpoints.

Specific objectives: the seminar focused on the following topics:

  • Purpose and use of standards for equality bodies;
  • Institutional architecture for equality bodies;
  • Functions: (i) promotion and prevention, (ii) victim support and litigation and (iii) adjudication;
  • Functioning of equality bodies: effectiveness, independence, accessibility.

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