A tailor-made training on hate speech and discrimination was organised for 33 Georgian journalists coming from several regions of the country, including Tbilisi, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Guria and Adjara. The training, held in co-operation with the Georgian civil society organisation “Rue of Law Centre”, aimed to enhance participants’ understanding on how to refrain from hate speech and ensure ethical reporting on vulnerable groups of people.
The training programme included presentations on European and national anti-discrimination legislation, as well as related redress mechanisms, to familiarise participants with the legal framework. Additionally, the training focused on rehabilitation and resocialisation approaches for perpetrators, utilizing practical case studies to illustrate these concepts. To promote the well-being of journalists and prevent burn out in high-pressure environments, stress reduction techniques and self-care strategies were also discussed.
Reflecting on the training, Levan Lomidze, from TV Formula News, stated: “Media plays a crucial role in promoting equality and diversity. Unfortunately, in recent times, it has distanced itself from this role due to other pressing issues on the agenda. These training sessions provided an opportunity to refresh our knowledge, revisit these important topics, and catch up on developments we have missed due to ongoing [political] processes. Additionally, the sessions encouraged us to reflect more on our mental well-being, prompting us to rethink and adjust certain aspects of our approach in this regard.”
This event was organised together with the project ‘’Enhancing Equality and Non-Discrimination in Georgia”, part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027 and in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the Kingdom of Norway.
This training is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Combating Hate Speech in Georgia’’.
