European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI ) General Policy Recommendation No. 2: Specialised bodies to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance at national level, adopted 13 June 1997 The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI): PART IV Recalling the Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the member States of the Council of Europe at their Summit held in Vienna on 8-9 October 1993; Recalling that the Plan of Action on combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance set out as part of this Declaration invited the Committee of Ministers to establish the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance with a mandate, inter alia, to formulate general policy recommendations to member States; Taking into account Resolution 48/134 adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 December 1993 on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; Taking into account also the fundamental principles laid down at the first International Meeting of the National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris from 7-9 October 1991 (known as the “Paris Principles”); Recalling the different Resolutions adopted at the first and second European meetings of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, held respectively in Strasbourg on 7-9 November 1994 and in Copenhagen on 20-22 January 1997; Taking into account Recommendation N° R (85) 13 of the Committee of Ministers on the institution of the Ombudsman; Taking also into account work carried out by the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) relating to the establishment of Independent National Human Rights Institutions; Emphasising that combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance forms an integral part of the protection and promotion of fundamental human rights; Recalling the proposal of ECRI to reinforce the non-discrimination clause (Article 14) of the European Convention on Human Rights; Profoundly convinced that everyone must be protected against discrimination based on race, colour, language, religion or national or ethnic origin or against discrimination which might stem indirectly from the application of the law in these areas; Convinced of the necessity of according the highest priority to measures aiming at the full implementation of legislation and policies intended to combat racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance; 80