Guidance note on the practical application of Council Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia

Under the lead of the European Commission, the High Level Group is intended as a platform to support EU and national efforts in ensuring effective implementation of relevant rules and in setting up effective policies to prevent and combat hate crime and hate speech. This is done by fostering thematic discussions on gaps, challenges and responses, promoting best practice exchange, developing guidance and strengthening cooperation and synergies between key stakeholders.

The newly published guidance note aims to help national authorities address common issues of practical application of these rules and ensure effective investigation, prosecution and sentencing of hate crime and hate speech on the ground. Read it here.

The focus of the High Level Group includes targeted work on two priority areas, in relation to which specific sub-groups were set up:

• Countering hate speech online, including through the implementation of a Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online, agreed by Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft* and YouTube with the European Commission in May 2016. Detailed information on this work may be found here;
• Improving methodologies for recording and collecting data on hate crime, through expert discussions carried out under the supervision of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Detailed information on this work may be found here.