Назад Advancing the counternarratives on hate speech with Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans equality bodies

Advancing the counternarratives on hate speech with Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans equality bodies

The representatives from the network of equality bodies engaged on combating hate speech in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans region held their conclusive meeting online on 17 January 2022. They tackled the work and the key results during a year long of modules to improve the response to hatred by reinforcing the role of equality bodies in protecting and promoting equality and non-discrimination.

These capacity building and networking activities aimed at raising awareness on European standards, including a newly devised online course based on the General Policy Recommendation 15 on combating hate speech of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. Further. The course offered online and offline possibilities to participants to exchange experiences, learn about good practices, discuss challenges equality bodies face in addressing hate speech in nowadays Europe.

The last meeting featured presentations from the Belgian equality body Unia, the EQUINET and ERGO Brussels-based networks and from the Association for Democratic Initiatives, notably focused on how to work on positive narratives and handle human rights based communication to counter hatred.

The group work will continue in 2022, by adjusting topics based on the Beneficiaries’ needs, following key consultations and exchange with local authorities.    

The network activities are developed within the joint programmes of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey (HF) and in particular the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans” (HF) as well as the Partnership for Good Governance (PGGII) and its project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Eastern Partnership” (PGGII).

Eastern Partnership 17 January 2022
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Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, 1-2 July 2024
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Addressing hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of Equality Bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region

A two-day workshop on addressing hate speech and hate crime took place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, involving Equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions.  The event supported by the EU and Council of Europe, gathered 50 representatives from both regions who discussed and exchanged on the best practices, measures and common challenges when addressing hate speech and hate crime. Through monitoring and reporting, policy advocacy, raising awareness and supporting victims equality bodies play a fundamental role in protecting human rights and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally.

In her opening remarks, Angela Longo, Head of Anti-discrimination Co-operation Unit, Council of Europe, underlined the significant progress in engaging with Equality Bodies through this network, regularly exchanging best practices and addressing the challenges of hatred and intolerance in societies. She highlighted that this new chapter of discussion delves into the grey area between hate speech and hate crime, addressing issues of incitement and biases,

Representatives from Equality Bodies had the opportunity to discuss and enhance their knowledge on the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member States on combating hate crime, adopted on 7th May 2024, as well as gain a clearer understanding of EU standards in the field of hate crime. Moreover, participants engaged in exchanges with peers from the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), who shared insights on addressing hate speech in the public discourse. The National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR) in Italy provided practical examples for developing counter-narratives and raising awareness initiatives.

They also explored opportunities to advocate for legislative reform, foster multisectoral co-operation, enhance data collection, and overall improve national mechanisms to counter hate crimes.

This seminar was organised within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies” – co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe  under the joint Programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

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