The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) was set up following a decision of the Council of Europe summit held in Vienna in October 1993, and strengthened by a decision of the summit held in Strasbourg in October 1997. ECRI is part of the Directorate General on Human Rights and consists of 40 representatives appointed by European governments. ECRI activities are overseen by a 10-person Secretariat in Strasbourg.
ECRI’s goal is to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance at the level of greater Europe and from the perspective of human rights protection. Its main task is to publish reports on the situation in specific European countries regarding racism and intolerance. ECRI also publishes recommendations for European governments, promotes the teaching of tolerance and equal rights, collects examples of "good practice" in Europe, deals with the problem of disseminating racism via the Internet, and organizes conferences, information sessions and meetings.