European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is a monitoring body of the Council of Europe in operation since 1994, which aims to combat racism, racial and ethnic discrimination, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance. Its members are independent experts with competence in the subject matter in the scope of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) nominated by each member state of the Council of Europe. The mandate of the experts is for a term of five years. Member States also nominate substitute members whose mandates are linked to that of the full members. The statute of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, but its activities are governed by the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols, and by the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. As part of its monitoring activities it prepares country reports on all Member States every five years. In preparation for this it will collect information on the spot during a country visit and then examine the relevant national legislation, the implementation of certain relevant policies and the effectiveness thereof. It makes proposals at local, national and European level. It also issues opinions and guidelines on current political or other phenomena and monitors changes in the relevant international legal documents and their application. Its country reports provide guidance in the course of formulating the specific policies, external relations and accession policy of other international organisations such as the European Union.