Before it becomes a matter of policy or law, discrimination begins with words - a comment, an assumption, a label. This was a the starting point for a two-day Workshop on Equality and Inclusion, where 23 young participants and civil society representatives worked on strengthening their knowledge and skills in promoting equality, inclusion and human rights.
The workshop combined interactive discussion with experiential learning methodologies, Participants explored the concepts of discrimination, stereotypes, prejudice, bullying and intersectionality of grounds of discrimination through interactive discussions, group work and experiential learning methodologies. They reflected on online and offline manifestations of discrimination and analysed real-life case studies to better understand the impact of language on individuals and communities.
The workshop also familiarised participants with Council of Europe standards and other relevant international human rights frameworks related to equality and non-discrimination. Through practical exercises, including Image Theatre, role-play and collaborative problem-solving, participants developed skills to recognise harmful narratives, challenge stereotypes, foster empathy and promote a human rights friendly and inclusive communication in their everyday lives. They further discussed practical approaches to preventing hate speech, raising awareness among their peers and contributing to cascade inclusion to local communities.
By the end of the workshop, participants had identified concrete actions to promote equality, respectful dialogue and inclusion within their schools, universities, workplaces and wider communities.
This activity 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 "Promoting equality in Azerbaijan.”
