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Credit: Stuart Richardson
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Dear Subscriber,
The International Roma Day on 8 April is a day to celebrate diversity and especially Romani culture. But it’s also a moment to reflect on the hate speech targeting Roma, refugees and other minorities and the treats it poses to the values of inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue, solidarity and human dignity for everybody in Europe.
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How to Take Action on Hate Speech |
The General Policy recommendation nr 15 on hate speech issued by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) on 21 March provides clear suggestion to the Council of Europe Member States on how to tackle hate speech. The document provides guidelines to understand what constitutes hate speech, incitement and freedom of expression. The policy recommendation includes encouraging speedy reactions by public figures to hate speech, withdraw of support to political parties that actively use hate speech, self-regulation of media and awareness raising on dangerous consequences of hate speech. In support of the recommendation, ECRI also published a report on ‘Cyberhate’; a fact sheet on Hate Speech by the European Court of Human Rights is also available.
These concrete policy measures should be advocated for at national level by the campaign community, for example in support of the 8 April.
Credit: No hate fighters
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Mirrors Available in French
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The first human rights education manual for young people on combating antigypsyism – racism and discrimination against Roma is now available in French and English. Designed to empower 16 to 30 year old young people to tackle individual and institutional racism against Roma, the manual provides educators, teachers, trainers and youth organisations with comprehensive educational activities for groups of all types; those with or without Roma participants, as well as mixed groups. All publications developed under the Roma Youth Action Plan can be found on its website. |
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Human Rights approach to terrorism
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Recent terror attacks in Ankara, Brussels and Istanbul have left us with many emotions and questions, as to how to understand and respond to these events. As Thorbjørn, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, underlines such attacks challenge our European Human Rights values. It is important to express solidarity and support for the victims and strengthen the call for democracy and human rights for all. The Council of Europe’s response is explained by the Secretary General in an interview with BBC News on 24 March. |
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Combating Hate Speech in Bosnia-Herzegovina
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This special report explores the prevalence of hate speech in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The organisation Balkan Diskurs has pulled together a collection of articles from its team of youth correspondents, providing valuable insights into the fight against online and offline hate speech across the country. The project was supported by the European Youth Foundation. |
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No Hate Parliamentary Alliance meets in Italy
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The first national seminar of the No Hate Parliamentary Alliance was held on 4 April at the Italian Parliament in Rome, Italy. The event took stock of the situation of hate speech in Italy and discussed possible policies to counter it. The ECRI General Policy recommendation on hate speech and several practices from the Italian anti-discrimination agency and academic institutions were presented. The seminar was attended by the Chairperson of the Italian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Michele Nicoletti, the Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Ms Elena Centemero, and the General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance and Coordinator of the No Hate Alliance, Ms Milena Santerini. For more information see the No Hate Alliance website. |
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Challenging Antigypsyism through grassroots activism seminar
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A seminar on Antigypsyism will be organized during 18-24 April in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia by Phiren Amenca international network and partner organizations. The seminar aims to raise awareness among young people and support activism efforts in challenging antigypsyism by creating local, national and European campaigns. The seminar is one of the key events in the networks goals for creating opportunities for non-formal education, dialogue and engagement to challenge stereotypes, racism and antigypsyism. |
Hate Speech Watch Seminar
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From 29 March to 2 April Hope for Children Hungary organised the seminar with partners from the national campaign committees of Albania, Armenia, UK, Italy, Georgia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Joined by participants from Romania, Russian Federation, Belarus and Spain, the thirty activists of the Movement aim to strengthen the use and visibility of the Hate Speech Watch at European and national level. The seminar report and recommendations will be available end of April. |
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