As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs,

Minister of Human and Minority Rights,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to open this Conference and to see such an important range of guests here –

Officials and experts from Africa, Europe and the Middle East –

Representatives of regional and global international organisations –

And of course civil society organisations including, crucially, a strong youth representation.

Your input will be vital to address the challenge that we are here to discuss.

As we know that acts of racism and xenophobia online cause deep harm –

They are designed to wound and intimidate their victims –

They often cross the line to become criminal acts –

And they demean and belittle our societies instead of making us proud.

Unfortunately, these trends are also on the rise.

As the reach of digital communication becomes ever greater –

It makes it possible for people to publish content that is instant, permanent, and anonymous –

And it is taking place at a time when politics in many countries is becoming more extreme, aggressive and polarised –

Often feeding on geopolitical events, including increased migration flows, the Russian Federation’s appalling war of aggression against Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East.

Studies show us what we know by instinct –

That youth are online more than older people, and make more use of social media too.

But we also know from a recent European Youth Survey that a significant portion of young people are engaged in cybercrime, as well as hate, racist and xenophobic crimes.

And this Conference is a perfect opportunity both to share ideas and perspectives on how we can work with young people to help stop this.

Certainly, the Council of Europe has put in place a range of tools that are designed to fight back against these negative trends –

And these tools are also often open to countries outside Europe who share our aims and values.

Let me give you just a few concrete examples.

Our Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

It aims to tackle crime online, not least by supporting cross-border co-operation.

Its First Additional Protocol addresses the criminalisation of racist and xenophobic acts, specifically –

And helps to harmonise understanding and laws among its states parties –

While its Second Additional Protocol aims to ensure cross-border co-operation on the disclosure of electronic information –

So that governments and service providers alike can make investigations faster and simpler –

And deliver justice more effectively.

The Budapest Convention has 76 parties from around the world – and it is growing.

The First Additional Protocol has 36 so far, including from Africa, America and Europe –

And the Second Additional Protocol –

Opened in 2022 –

Is attracting signatures fast –

Including, most recently, Czechia, Sierra Leone, and Paraguay –

As we move towards the necessary ratifications that will bring it into force.

The Council of Europe also has a Cybercrime Programme Office in Bucharest which provides support and training to implement all of this –

And, taken all this together, it is a very important package – with a truly global reach.

And let us recall that any country can join the Budapest Convention and its Protocols –

And I hope that for those of you who are from countries that have not yet done so –

Today might be an opportunity to discuss whether that would be a positive step to protect your citizens from racism, xenophobia and other forms of cybercrime.

But our action is wider still.

Aside from criminal law, we have a range of awareness-raising, education, and civil
society-linked tools that are all relevant to the online environment.

Examples include recommendations to our member states on combating hate speech and hate crime –

Which acknowledge the role of youth in ensuring solutions –

Protect their rights and address their needs also as potential targets –

And use of education, the development of counter narratives, and active participation in national policy conversations as means to push back against hate.

More broadly, our youth sector strategy until 2030, equips young people to participate in building more inclusive societies –

Through shaping polices, programmes and projects that embrace diversity on the one hand –

And monitor and counter discrimination, violence and exclusion.

That same open and positive ethos underpins the work of the European Youth Foundation –

Which supports youth civil society organisations’ projects on peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue –

And helps us in our efforts to ensure the equal participation of national minority youth, including Roma and others –

And then of course it is the important work of the North-South Centre itself –

Whose current strategy helps the Council of Europe look outwards –

Engage with others –

And focus on raising young people’s awareness.

In fact, the conclusions of this Conference will be integrated into our future youth initiatives –

Including a new two-year programme called HEY –

Which is: Human Rights Education for Youth –

Whose goal is to strengthen youth civil society across Europe, the Southern Mediterranean, and sub-Saharan Africa –

By supplying expertise through online courses, translated and adapted to regional and national needs.

This – all of this together – can help national authorities, civil society, and youth to turn the tide on racism and xenophobia online –

Dear friends,

What I have told you is only a part of the overall picture, with a particular focus on youth.

But, it gives you, I hope, a flavour of the what we – the Council of Europe has to offer.

But the purpose of establishing these North-South Centre Intercultural Conferences is crystal clear.

It’s basically about dialogue.

Where we can listen to you and learn from your experience.

Discuss and together find new ways of
co-operating.

So, having said my part, I look forward now to hearing from all of you, here in the magnificent town of Kotor.

And let me at the end thank our excellent hosts – the Montenegrin authorities – for their important initiative of hosting this conference and their generous hospitality.

Thank you for your attention.