The University of Tirana’s Faculty of History and Philology hosted an open lecture with focus on hate speech, gathering journalism students and experts to discuss about combating hate speech, especially in the media. Organised by the ‘No Hate Alliance’, with the support of EU and Council of Europe, the event emphasised the urgent need to address and mitigate hate speech within society.

The activity featured a detailed presentation by Ms. Mirela Oktrova about the role of the ‘No Hate Alliance’ and the Audiovisual Media Authority's efforts in this crucial fight against hate speech in media. Subsequent talks included Ms. Vilma Shurdha, Commissioner at the People's Advocate, discussing the identification and combat against hate speech in daily life and Mr. Robert Gajda, Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, who shed light on practical approaches to handle hate speech legally.

Ms. Klodiana Gjenerali, from the Albanian Media Council, highlighted the challenges and strategies related to hate speech in the new media.

This was followed by an open discussion, allowing for a lively exchange of ideas among participants.

The No Hate Alliance is an initiative of the People's Advocate, Audiovisual Media Authority, Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, and the Albanian Media Council aimed to strengthen stakeholders’ cooperation to address this phenomenon in the society.

The event not only provided a platform for learning and discussion but also reinforced the Academic community's commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful media landscape. It provided insights into the detrimental effects of hate speech but also equipped journalism students with tools and knowledge to combat it effectively in their future careers.

By fostering dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders, the event marks a significant step towards building a more inclusive and tolerant society in Albania.

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This activity was organised within the actions “Advancing the protection from discrimination in Albania” and “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Albania” which are part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.