116 PROMOTING AND PROTECTING MINORITY RIGHTS To facilitate the involvement of NGOs in the monitoring process, in 2004, the Council of Europe published The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages: Working Together: NGOs and Regional or Minority Languages. Contacts and further information Council of Europe European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Directorate General IV – Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport F–67075 Strasbourg Cedex France Tel: 33 3 88 41 31 86 Fax: 33 3 88 41 27 88 E-mail: minlang.secretariat@coe.int Website: www.coe.int/minlang European Commission against Racism and Intolerance The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) is a monitoring body created by the Council of Europe to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance. Its mandate covers all forms of discrimination and prejudice against persons or groups of persons on grounds of race, colour, language, religion, nationality, or national or ethnic origin. The Commission was established at the first Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe and endowed with a Statute by the Committee of Ministers in 2002, which consolidated its role as an independent human rights organ. It conducts country-bycountry monitoring, makes general policy recommendations and promotes awareness-raising. Its members are appointed on the basis of their expertise in the fields covered by its mandate, and they serve in their individual capacity in an independent and impartial manner. In the course of its country-specific work, the Commission examines the situation of racism and intolerance in each of the Council of Europe member States. Its findings, along with recommendations on ways of dealing with the problems identified, are published in country reports. These are drawn up following analyses of information provided in writing by the State and NGOs and a country visit, during which Commission delegates meet relevant Government and civil society stakeholders. Before finalizing a report on a country, the Commission engages in a confidential dialogue with its authorities. All States are considered in the same manner, in five-year monitoring cycles (covering nine to 10 countries per year). The fourth monitoring cycle, which started in 2008, focuses on the implementation of previous cycles’ recommendations. Three specific recommendations are designated as priorities for each State, on which they are to report progress two years after the publication of their fourth-cycle report. The Commission also addresses general policy recommendations to all member States, which provide guidelines for Government policymakers in their fight against racism and related forms of discrimination. The Commission has adopted 12 such recommendations on, for example, effective legislative responses, specialized bodies, Roma, Islamophobia, the Internet, combating racism while fighting terrorism, antisemitism, education, policing and sports. For the fight against racism to be effective, the message must filter down to the general population. Awareness-raising is, therefore, crucial. In 2002, the Commission adopted a programme of action that includes developing contacts with all interested NGOs, initiating round-table sessions in States to discuss the impact of the Commission’s country reports, and organizing annual seminars for specialized bodies on topics of common interest (such as mediation, positive measures and integration).