Back Primary school children from Nis learned how to "Block the hatred. Share the love!”

Primary school children from Nis learned how to

Children from the Primary School “Radoje Domanovic“ in Nis had an opportunity today to better understand the importance of countering hate speech, racism, and discrimination. They took part in a workshop organised as part of the joint campaign of the European Union and the Council of Europe, “Block the Hatred. Share the love!"

The event was attended by actors and campaign ambassadors Milena Radulovic and Slaven Doslo, as well as by young European ambassadors Teodora Cekic, Adrijana Nikitovic and Andja Stanojkovic. The event was opened by the school principal Dusica Trickovic. Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade and Branislav Randjelovic, Director of Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation of Serbia, also addressed the audience. After the opening remarks the children could see and discuss the exhibition of children’s artworks, and to talk to the ambassadors of the campaign.

School Principal Dusica Trickovic in her welcome speech said: “It is our duty to empower children not to be silent when they feel bad or suffer violence. The support that the school provides to the pupils is necessary for their safe and healthy upbringing. The path of democratic values through which we lead our pupils is the path of freedom of speech, development of creativity and a positive attitude towards school, oneself, others and life.

Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, said: “Block the hatred, share love is the key message of the Council of Europe’s work for equality and diversity in Serbia. The internet campaign focusses on young people who spend a lot of time online. Being aware and acting for human rights of everyone is a crucial element of the competences for a democratic culture, here in Nis, in Serbia and all over Europe.

The campaign is being implemented in co-operation with the action “Quality education for all”, and on behalf of this action Branislav Ranđelović, Director of the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation of Serbia pointed out: “The "Quality education for all" action is one of the most important projects currently being implemented in our education system, under the auspices of the Council of Europe and the European Union. During this action, students and teachers can learn about ways to develop democratic culture, as one of the basic competencies for living. Also, the action is significant for connecting, developing intercultural tolerance, understanding and the importance of recognising hate speech”.

Milena Radulovic, actress and campaign ambassador, addressed the audience: "Unfortunately, children and young people are exposed to various negative influences on social networks every day, and hate speech is something what leaves a strong impression on you. There is a group of people who actively hate on the internet every day. It is important that we ignore those people and negative comments, it is also important that if someone directly mistreats me, I do not remain silent about it. It is very important to talk to parents, a teacher or someone older that we trust. What you read about yourself, or hear at school, very often has nothing to do with you and the person who you will grow up to be, but with the one who offends. There is no shame in confiding what is happening to you. It's a shame if you're the one who likes to humiliate and insult someone else. Although it may seem cool, but think about whether you want to be a good person and a friend, or if you're going to score points by putting others down. By diminishing others, we diminish ourselves in the first place. Notice nice things, read nice things, say nice things. And don't be silent if something bothers you!"

Slaven Doslo, actor and ambassador of the campaign, pointed out: "I think it is very important to understand that our words and actions can have serious consequences on other people. The way we communicate can be in favour of understanding and love or in favour of division and hatred. We are here to remind that it is always nicer to live in a tolerant society where differences form a whole and enrich your life".

The "Block the Hatred. Share the love!” campaign aims to combat various forms of hate speech directed at certain communities and individuals in Serbia, especially those of sensitive and minority groups. The Internet allows freedom in the expression of different opinions and creates the impression that the remain comments do not leave traces on the people to whom they are addressed. In the online world, anyone can become a victim of hate speech, regardless of social status, age and gender. Hate speech most often affects vulnerable groups of people such as women, minorities, and people with disabilities.

Campaign „Block the hatred. Share the love!” is taking place online, through social media pages (Facebook; Instagram; Twitter), as well as through public events. These activities involve prominent public figures, institutions, and activists, who will promote diversity and equality in Serbia and the region through personal experiences, testimonies, and exchange of good practices.

The campaign is implemented within the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in Serbia”, that is a part of joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022". This programme supports key local actors and beneficiary institutions in Serbia and the Western Balkans in the fight against discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes directed against minorities, LGBTI people and other vulnerable groups of the Serbian society.

Nis 23 September 2022
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Hate speech is on the rise across Europe, jeopardising social cohesion and putting human rights under threat. The Western Balkans region is not immune to hate speech that particularly targets individuals from vulnerable groups, who have already been affected by stigma and discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic. To counter this phenomenon in the region, the European Union and the Council of Europe have launched a campaign for the Western Balkans – “Block the hatred. Share the love.”

The campaign implemented under the action on “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans” will take place entirely online, through dedicated FacebookInstagram and Twitter pages: “Block the hatred. Share the love.”, and will be ongoing in the years to come.

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