The Partnership for Good Governance project “Combating hate speech in Ukraine” was concluded on 16 December 2025 with a conference to showcase and discuss the project’s achievements with all stakeholders, followed by a technical committee meeting with national partners.

The project has contributed to strengthening national capacities to identify, monitor and address hate speech in line with European standards, while promoting coordinated responses among state institutions, civil society and independent regulators. Born to be a project meant for time of peace, it adapted its scope to operate in a country with active war in its territory, with an even strong need for addressing hatred at the societal level and foster social cohesion. The conference gathered practitioners, policymakers and civil society partners who also presented their promising practices and outputs developed through the small grants scheme, with a forward-looking attention to lay down basis for future reconciliation.

Fair of promising practices in preventing hate speech through education and awareness raising

Within the concluding conference, a fair of promising practices was held to showcase examples on combating hate speech through education and awareness raising. Civil society organisations had a space to present their local level responses to hate speech in Ukraine, including the outputs of the five projects which were funded to develop non-legal measures, including counter and alternative narratives and human rights education to counter hate speech. 

Hate speech in times of crisis

A workshop to present the Council of Europe study on hate speech in times of crisis was also part of the concluding conference.  The author of the study joined online to present the contents and exchange over the conclusions, including the need to build systemic cooperation and responses before a crisis occurs, so that there will be adequate response.

Presenting the data collection tools

A draft protocol on data collection was presented and discussed with stakeholders at the concluding conference. This protocol promotes coordination on data collection and analysis of hate speech trends in view of proposing adequate measures to counter hate speech and provide access to redress mechanisms for those targeted.

Contribution by the Young European Ambassadors

The Young European Ambassadors were also present at the event, and they discussed their work on promoting equality and diversity in Ukraine. Working with the Young European Ambassadors to promote European standards of non-discrimination ensures that these standards reach to young people, and they are informed how to counter hate speech. The team worked with them as part of the national project and at the cross regional level, with trainings and workshops online and in person.

Technical committee meeting

The project partners and beneficiaries concluded the day with a technical committee meeting to discuss the project’s achievements and their plans for further work on combating hate speech. The beneficiaries expressed commitment to advance this work in the framework of a joint project of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

The activity was organised as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Partnership for Good Governance, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project Combating hate speech in Ukraine.