Abstract

The fact that antidiscrimination law has been harmonized and enhanced at European Union level does not imply automatically that victims of discrimination have easier access to existing means of redress. Hence, this contribution stresses the role of equality bodies for the enforcement of antidiscrimination law. After an overview of the antidiscrimination bodies existing before Directive 2000/43 introduced a requirement for all member states to set up a racial equality body, the article analyses the provisions of the Directive highlighting their strengths and limits. Last, two equality bodies established "ex novo" in France and Italy are described. The comparison shows that multidimensional independence and a set of positive competences are essential if equality bodies are to positively enhance redress possibilities for victims of racial discrimination.