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Using a human right-based language in responding to hate speech: a challenge for equality bodies across Europe

Equality bodies need to make strong efforts in nowadays’ Europe to respond to hate speech in the framework of their mandate. This is particularly important considering the increased use of social media, forms and levels of hatred present on the social media, as well as in the public space.

The pandemic and new toxic narratives spreading stigma and manifesting discriminatory attitudes against vulnerable social groups, only adds to the problem. Equality bodies continuously struggle to provide a response that is balanced between limitations imposed by freedom of expression and protecting victims and potential victims of discrimination. To this end, the European Union and the Council of Europe, through their joint programmes, support them in their endeavour to increasingly use a human rights-based language in their public communication and their approach to combating hate speech.

The Council of Europe, in its joint efforts with the European Union in the Eastern and South Eastern European regions, has devised a capacity building programme to provide tools and peer to peer exchanges to better develop responses to hate speech, using the European standards and practices as reference, especially the ECRI General policy recommendation nr. 15 on combating hate speech. The first training session took place on 29 March, getting participants familiar with the topic of counternarratives and providing samples to reflect on. Over 40 participants from equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region explored the communication approaches related to counter and alternative narratives to hate speech and developed ideas and plans for their own institution’s communication in the coming months.

This capacity building activity is 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 the Partnership for Good Governance (PGG) and in particular the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans” (HF) and the project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Eastern Partnership” (PGG).

Online 29 March 2021
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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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