Назад Supporting equality bodies from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions to address hate speech

Supporting equality bodies from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions to address hate speech

The European Union and the Council of Europe, through their partnership continue their work to reinforce the capacities of equality bodies from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions to address hate speech.

On 13 September, a new e-learning tool was launched and a pilot group of representatives of Ombudsperson offices and equality bodies from the region will follow a new online course on combating hate speech. The course is developed in modules, based on the various chapters of the general policy recommendation number 15 of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance on combating hate speech. The course includes key information and interactive activities about thedevelopment of such a specialised policy recommendation, on the definition of hate speech and its forms, on measures to prevent and provide redress in hate speech cases, as well as on the way hate speech can be addressed at national level and who needs to be involved.

The group of 23 civil servants enrolled in the course will individually go through the modules and its resources, while regularly tutored by Council of Europe specialists, offering in-between occasions of deepening knowledge, responding to questions, and providing feedback. During weekly meetings, participants will also be introduced to good practices on combating hate speech from experts and practitioners from other countries. The course will be completed at the end of October 2021.

The course will be translated and offered to local actors in the Western Balkans to ensure that a larger number of beneficiaries will be trained on the key aspects of hate speech and relevant European standards to combat it.

This activity is developed in the framework of the projects “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans” and “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Eastern Partnership,” funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II and Horizontal Facility II for the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Online 13 September 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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