35 representatives from institutions, universities, regulatory bodies, media outlets and civil society organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered on 2 December in Sarajevo for a round table dedicated to tackling hate speech - particularly in the online space where it most often takes root.

Organised by the NGO Atlantic Initiative, the discussion formed part of a project supported by the Council of Europe and the National Endowment for Democracy, in co-operation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants focused on identifying key challenges in developing effective, systemic responses to hate speech, and on exchanging practical ideas across sectors.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, Amela Hasić reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to freedom of expression as a cornerstone of democratic society, while stressing that this right must go hand in hand with preventing hate speech and intolerance. She highlighted the protection of diversity as a core value of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s social fabric.

The discussion also created space for criminology and media experts to shed light on the profiles and motivations of perpetrators, the challenges of proving hate speech in court, and the wider psychological and social harm such speech inflicts on communities. NGOs contributed real-life cases from their daily work, sharing experiences of documenting, reporting, and responding to hateful messages and insults, most frequently encountered on social media platforms.

A clear message emerged from the exchange: combating hate speech requires sustained dialogue, ongoing education, and stronger cross-sector cooperation. Participants emphasised the need to better support first responders in this field, from civil society actors to media professionals, and to deepen cooperation with digital platforms, which remain the primary channels for the spread of hateful content.

The workshop was supported by the Council of Europe through its project “Combating discrimination, hate, and racism in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” which is implemented under the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.