The final project meeting of the joint EU- Council of Europe project “Increasing civil society organisations’ knowledge and capacity to counter hate speech online” is taking place on 9-10 December 2024 in Strasbourg. The meeting hosts a presentation and discussion around the key findings and lessons learnt from the pilot study on the “Effectiveness, risks and potential of using counter and alternative narratives in combating hate speech”. The meeting also provides space for exchange around the current challenges and experiences in combating hate speech, potential for the work of the Council of Europe in supporting civil society organisations to counter hate speech online.

The meeting gathered some 20 participants from various civil society organisations involved in the pilot study, organisations working to combat hate speech online, multipliers of the Council of Europe’s approaches and tools in combating hate speech, beneficiaries of the project and representatives from different Council of Europe services working on similar topics.

In the framework of the project the Justice for Prosperity foundation conducted a pilot study on the “Effectiveness, risks and potential of using counter and alternative narratives in combating hate speech”. The pilot study aims to support knowledge-building of the implications and strengths of using CANs to combat hate speech and promote human rights online. By examining the long-term effects of using CANs, the study aims to understand better their application, use, and potential to foster more acceptance and inclusion in society based on appreciation of human rights values and principles.

The activity is implemented in the framework of the EU-Council of Europe’s joint project “Increasing civil society organisations’ knowledge and capacity to counter hate speech online”. The project is co-funded by the European Union and Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe until December 2024.