On 28 and 29 May 2026, the European Centre for the Study of Hate at the University of Limerick, in association with the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI), is organising a two day conference, “Challenging Hate: Protecting Human Rights and Strengthening Democracy”, on the Limerick campus.
The conference brings together academics, policy-makers, practitioners, members of civil society organisations, and activists to discuss the scope, implementation and impact of the Council of Europe Recommendations on combating hate speech (CM/Rec(2022)16) and combating hate crime (CM/Rec(2024)4).
The conference will also explore how these recommendations, which establish a comprehensive human rights framework for challenging hate across Europe, can be operationalised at local, national and international levels.
Hate threatens the fabric of society by fostering division, exclusion, and mistrust, undermining democratic values, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence. Hate speech and hate crimes not only violate human dignity and fundamental rights but also fuel fear, extremism, and violence, making early and decisive prevention essential to protect democracy and social inclusion.
Distinguished speakers include Judge Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Ireland; Ambassador Caitríona Doyle, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg; Professor Barbara Perry, UNESCO Chair of Hate Studies; Käthlin Sander, Chair of CDADI, Viktor Kundrák, Vice-Chair of CDADI, Wolfram Bechtel, Secretary of CDADI, Charlotte Gilmartin, Secretary of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Commission, Stephanie Öner, Deputy Head of Department at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice and former Chair of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Hate Crime (PC/ADI-CH); Professor Jennifer Schweppe, Professor in the School of Law of the University of Limerick, Director of the European Centre for the Study of Hate at that Institution and former member of the PC/ADI-CH, Marion Adam, Avocate générale référendaire, Cour de cassation and former Vice-Chair of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on combating hate crime; and Nadejda Hriptievschi, former member of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Combating Hate Speech. The conference will also feature of the launch of The De Gruyter Handbook on European Hate Crime.
See full conference programme >>
