The representatives from the network of equality bodies engaged on combating hate speech in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans region held their conclusive meeting online on 17 January 2022. They tackled the work and the key results during a year long of modules to improve the response to hatred by reinforcing the role of equality bodies in protecting and promoting equality and non-discrimination.

These capacity building and networking activities aimed at raising awareness on European standards, including a newly devised online course based on the General Policy Recommendation 15 on combating hate speech of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. Further. The course offered online and offline possibilities to participants to exchange experiences, learn about good practices, discuss challenges equality bodies face in addressing hate speech in nowadays Europe.

The last meeting featured presentations from the Belgian equality body Unia, the EQUINET and ERGO Brussels-based networks and from the Association for Democratic Initiatives, notably focused on how to work on positive narratives and handle human rights based communication to counter hatred.

The group work will continue in 2022, by adjusting topics based on the Beneficiaries’ needs, following key consultations and exchange with local authorities.    

The network activities are developed within the joint programmes of the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey (HF) and in particular the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans” (HF) as well as the Partnership for Good Governance (PGGII) and its project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judicial redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Eastern Partnership” (PGGII).