In a society where harmful speech and discriminatory attitudes often seep into everyday interactions, such as schoolyards, social media, and even trusted institutions, recognising and confronting hate speech is both a challenge and a necessity. Responding to this urgent need, a three-day workshop in Batumi brought together a diverse group of participants from Upper Ajara: students, teachers, psychologists, and a local resource officer, all united by their commitment to building a more just and respectful society.

Over three days, around 20 participants moved beyond textbooks to engage with the reality of hate speech in the world around them. Facilitated with a blend of expert input, interactive exercises, and practical case studies, the training equipped participants with critical knowledge, including Georgia’s legal protections on equality and the various forms hate speech can take both offline and online. They explored the fine line between freedom of expression and the harm caused by microaggressions, learning not just how to identify hate speech, but how to stand up against it.

A significant highlight of the programme was the active involvement of certified trainers from the Public Defender’s Office, who led practice-oriented sessions on anti-racism and shared real-world approaches for safeguarding human rights. As one participant reflected: “I used to see hate speech as something distant or abstract. This workshop helped me realise how it affects real people every day, including my students and colleagues. Now, I feel ready to take concrete steps to make our community safer and more inclusive.”

In collaborative group work, participants mapped out the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in Georgia and developed strategic, action-focused responses, tailored to the realities they face in their schools and organisations. By the final day, each person had created a practical action plan to challenge hate, support those affected, and foster a culture of equality and respect.

By grounding learning in real-life situations and empowering individuals as agents of change, this training marked an important step in turning awareness into action in Batumi. As participants left, they carried with them not only greater knowledge, but a shared determination to build communities where every voice is valued, and every person belongs.

Strengthening regional action

All activities implemented in the regions of Georgia contributed to enhancing cooperation at the local level to supporting sustainable mechanisms for combating hate speech and strengthening human rights protection at regional level.  The regional activities further contribute to the increased knowledge on and visibility of the Council of Europe and European Union.

• Human rights defenders in Ajara launch Anti-Hate Speech Network
• Training in Batumi strengthens efforts to combat hate speech

These events are part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint 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 Georgia’’