ANTI-HATE SPEECH
The aim of the project Active European Citizens against Hate Speech is to raise awareness of the new generation of European citizens about the impact of hate speech on democratic participation and European values. Hate speech is often used as a tool to target different vulnerable groups, especially minorities, immigrants and refugees. It causes their alienation and exclusion which leads to marginalisation. Such narratives weaken democracy and strengthen positions of far-right and radical right populists and Eurosceptics.
The project will focus on the promotion of such democratic values such as civic and political participation, peaceful coexistence and diversity. Especially emphasizing the participation of new citizens (immigrants) and other minorities. The project activities will raise citizens’ awareness about the harmful impact of hate speech, promote European values and strengthen solidarity among young people through debates, networking and human rights education.
The key activities and outcomes of the project are:
- Research on the impact of hate speech on Euroscepticism and xenophobia in the EU, and in project partner countries in particular, and recommendations on how to decrease it;
- An international meeting of stakeholders and experts to discuss good practices and challenges in each partner country;
- 2 local events focusing on the roots and consequences of hate speech, its impact on Euroscepticism and perception of European values, and the effective ways how to empower the young generation to tackle hate speech and promote civic and political participation;
- An international conference with participation of young people, minority representatives, stakeholders, experts, NGOs, and policy makers to present the outcomes of the project and discuss further challenges that need to be addressed on EU level;
- Dissemination of the project objectives, activities and results through different communication channels.
Project news:
- Final report on all project activities (August 2022)
- The Bulgarian report Hate Speech and Euroscepticism in Bulgaria was published (August 2022)
- The European report Hate, Euroscepticism, Citizenship: The Youth Connection was published (August 2022)
- The international conference "Tackling the Impact of Hate Speech on Our Lives and Society: A Comprehensive Approach Towards Prevention of Hate Involving Policy Makers and Young People" was held in Cluj (25 June 2022)
- The seminar "Migration and Refugees - Media Coverage and Prevention of Hate Speech" was held in Sofia (23 June 2022)
- A youth anti-hate speech workshop was held in Sofia (17 May 2022)
- A youth anti-hate speech workshop was held in Veliko Tarnovo (15 May 2022)
- A youth anti-hate speech workshop was held online for EU citizens living in Bulgaria (10 and 12 May 2022)
- A youth workshop on developing anti-hate speech campaigns was held for communication students at Sofia University (9 April 2022)
- An international interactive seminar "Active European Citizens Against Hate Speech" was held online (5 October 2021)
Time frame: March 2020 – August 2022
Partners: Latvian Human Rights Centre (Latvia) – leading partner, Participation for All (Latvia), Estonian Human Rights Centre (Estonia), Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Lithuania), Human Rights House Zagreb (Croatia), Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania – PATRIR (Romania), Multi Kulti Collective (Bulgaria)
Funding: European Commission, Europe for Citizens Programme
Head image: Rositsa Raleva for Fine Acts