Inclusion and anti-discrimination programmes

The Council of Europe's Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programmes Division carries out activities to ensure genuine equality and full access to rights and opportunities for all members of society.

The Division is composed of four Units, offering concrete and tested solutions to governmental and non-governmental partners in member States to strenghten inclusion and address discrimination and inequality that undermine the enjoyment of human rights and democracy by everyone:

Back Support to the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in combating hate speech

Support to the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in combating hate speech

6 March 2024, Sarajevo - During its last online consultative working meeting organised by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 55 representatives from state institutions from both entities and the Brčko District, the Ombudsperson, media, international organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs) was  discussed the application of the Mapping responses to hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A situational analysis and mapping report’.

The meeting, was an occasion to tackle on the implementation, monitoring and reporting towards mapping responses to hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) , and concrete challenges among relevant stakeholders related to hate speech.

The latest report on Bosnia and Herzegovina of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the recent Council of Europe Recommendation by Committee of Ministers to its member states on combating hate speech (CM/Rec. 2022/16), called on authorities to develop, together with CSOs and international organisations, comprehensive strategies to prevent and fight hate speech. At the 30th session, held on 27 November 2023, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the proposal of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted the ‘Mapping responses to hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A situational analysis and mapping report’.

The Mapping, whose development was facilitated through the EU and Council of Europe expertise, provides a comprehensive overview of the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, setting out a clear roadmap and priority measures in addressing hate speech on a systemic level. Besides, the mapping document aims to deepen the understanding of the specificities of hate speech and available remedies in BiH, to set up the basis for dealing with the problem more efficiently. It was developed through an inclusive active involvement of 34 relevant entities involved. 

These activities were organised with the support of the action "Towards an equal, inclusive and tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina", which is implemented within the framework of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye".

Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 MARCH
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 The four Units' activities are directly based on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, the recommendations and findings of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (AC/FCNM), and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages, as well as relevant Committee of Ministers Recommendations.

 

 The approach of the Division is to establish a direct link between standards, the monitoring processes, the intergovernmental work, such as the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) and the implementation of co-operation activities. This allows to identify weaknesses in the implementation of standards where technical cooperation activities can be helpful.

 

 The Division works closely with the existing networks of equality bodies and national human rights structures (ombudsmen and national human rights institutions); other Council of Europe monitoring bodies (such as European Committee of Social Rights, the Group of experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) and their secretariats; European networks of NGO’s and national civil society platforms; and international actors, such as the EU Commission and its Agencies (including the Fundamental Rights Agency), the UN agencies (such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme) and the OSCE/ODIHR.

Division units
ICC

ICC

ICC

The Intercultural Cities Programme (ICC) supports local and regional authorities in reviewing their policies through an intercultural lens and developing comprehensive intercultural strategies to ensure real equality, meaningful intercultural interaction, and positive diversity management to realise the diversity advantage.

Anti-Discrimination Cooperation and Hate Speech, Hate Crime and Artificial Intelligence Units

Anti-Discrimination Cooperation and Hate Speech, Hate Crime and Artificial Intelligence Units

Anti-Discrimination Cooperation and Hate Speech, Hate Crime and Artificial Intelligence Units

The Anti-Discrimination Cooperation (ADCU) and Hate Speech, Hate Crime and Artificial Intelligence (HSCU) Units run extensive programmes of cooperation activities to help combat discrimination, hate speech and hate crime, as well as support the empowerment of minorities, the positive management of diversity and respect of human rights, including in the deployment of digital technologies, algorithmic and artificial intelligence systems.

SOGIESC

SOGIESC

SOGIESC

The Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Caracteristics Unit (SOGIESC) offers tailor made activities aiming to combat discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics, including technical support and expertise to member states to improve their legal and institutional framework, capacity building, sharing of good practices, and awareness raising.