Ideas or theories of superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin.
Art. 4 of UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1. Racism can be defined in many ways. A broad, general definition is used here in order to have a common understanding of the concept. However, there is a problem in that the term 'racism' presupposes the existence of different races. Recital (6) of Directive 2000/43/EC (Racial Equality Directive) states that 'The European Union rejects theories which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.'
2. According to the EU acquis, and specifically Art. 1 of Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA, offences concerning racism and xenophobia are considered to be:
(a) publicly inciting to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin;
(b) the commission of an act referred to in point (a) by public dissemination or distribution of tracts, pictures or other material;
(c) publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivialising crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes as defined in Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin when the conduct is carried out in a manner likely to incite violence or hatred against such a group or a member of such a group;
(d) publicly condoning, denying or grossly trivialising the crimes defined in Art. 6 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal appended to the London Agreement of 8 August 1945, directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin when the conduct is carried out in a manner likely to incite violence or hatred against such a group or a member of such a group.
3. The Council of Europe provides further insight into the understanding of this term.