7 November 2024 - 15.00-17.00  / Palais de l'Europe / Salle 10

Interpretation FR/EN

Sponsored by PACE 

Hatred often results from the inability to understand the other side’s position in a conflict or to accept differences of values, culture or perspective. This limits our ability to find a compromise solution and can fuel the vicious circle of one-upmanship. Our era has also brought a new set of challenges in terms of communication, which has become increasingly depersonalised by through social networks, where hate speech tinged with prejudice spreads wide with anyone being a potential target, but particularly those belonging to minorities. How can we encourage people to listen to and understand “the other”? Open dialogue can help uncover the mechanisms of hatred in order to combat it more effectively.

Moderator:

Petra BAYR (Autriche, SOC), Membre de l’Assemblée Parlementaire et de l’Assemblée fédérale autrichienne, Autriche

Discussant:

Georgios STAMATIS (Grèce, PPE/DC), Membre de l’Assemblée parlementaire  du Conseil de l’Europe et membre du Parlement grec, GRECE (à confirmer)

Intervention for social inclusion through the fight against sexist and sexual violence  and discrimination, Association DBSP Stop au sexisme

France

Founded 3 years ago, DBSP Stop au sexisme is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to prevent and raise awareness about issues of ordinary sexism, sexist and sexual violence, harassment (street, school, cyber), sexual assault, LGBTQIA+ causes and ''male/female'' inequalities. Their first level of action is mainly digital and includes social networks (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook), a newsletter, a website, YouTube videos, micro-trottoirs and two podcasts. In the field, the association supplements its action with festive prevention measures (flyers, educational games, icebreaker cocotte), safe zones, marauding to monitor risky behaviour, helping victims, and dissuading the perpetrators of problematic acts. The association has also been working in schools since February 2023, with French Ministry of Education approval, with special emphasis on cyberbullying. Their two-hour awareness-raising sessions and conferences for the general public aim to sow seeds of long-term reflection to promote inclusiveness in political decision-making and beyond.

Presenter:

Emanouela TODOROVA
 

Local Conflict Management, Sozialpädagogisches Institut “Walter May”

Germany

Under the project "Local Conflict Management" project, Stiftung SPI supports 13 local authorities in Germany to adapt or enhance their conflict management structures and procedures, aiming at fostering local democracy, dialogue, and participation. Conflicts tackled at local level are likely to threaten peaceful democratic coexistence in our diverse modern society. These include (local) protest movements that display anti-democratic and anti-government tendencies, threats from right-wing extremist groups, conflicts evolving around topics such as migration, integration, and questions of (local) identity as well as conflicts related to the use of public spaces that exhibit tendencies to exclude certain groups. An analysis of local conflicts was carried out in each participating city while integrating different viewpoints. Local steering groups then developed targeted activities to address these conflicts. The project also includes a conflict management training programme for representatives of local administrations and civil society organisations. The project is funded by the German Federal Government.

Presenter:

Julia Rettig

Julia Rettig has been working in the fields of the prevention of violent extremism, crime prevention and the promotion of democracy with cities, regions, civil society and research institutions across Europe. She has also worked as coordinator of federal government programmes, including programmes designed to facilitate the integration of refugee families. She holds a Master of Arts degree in German Studies, Philosophy and Political Sciences of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich.

Courageous Rhode Island, Media Education Lab 

United States of America

Courageous Rhode Island (RI) is committed to preventing the rise of violence and extremism through authentic and respectful conversations, promoting active listening, media literacy, kindness and compassion, and community engagement to counter fear and hate. Courageous Conversations is an adult education initiative that critically analyses media, news, and popular culture, while exploring how hate spreads. It encourages deep listening to differing opinions, dialogue on difficult topics, and shares skills for recognising and resisting manipulative and provocative messages. In 2023, more than 1200 people took part in Courageous Conversations, a series of 22 online dialogues on topics including hoaxes and misinformation, social media influencers, conflict entrepreneurs, choosing whom to trust, targeted propaganda, freedom of expression, hate speech and censorship, preventing violent extremism and disrupting pathways to radicalisation. In 2024, a series of practical and supportive tools were developed to help hundreds of educators and students build tolerance, problem-solving skills, and an appreciation of different perspectives.

Presenter:

Yonty FRIESEM

Yonty Friesem is the executive director of the Media Education Lab and the founding director of the MA in Media for Social Impact at Columbia College Chicago as part of an effort to shape more equitable, trauma-informed and healing-centered practices of media and community engagement. Yonty’s publications include the theory of inclusive dialogs via youth media they call digital empathy. In 2022, Yonty co-founded the Illinois Media Literacy Coalition and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Media Education Futures Post-Pandemic. Yonty serves as the vice chair of the international steering committee as part of UNESCO Information and Media Literacy Alliance.

Unity in Journalism: Weekly Dialogues for Media Harmony and Democratic Progress in Ethiopia, Editors Guild of Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Despite Ethiopia's century-long media history, polarisation has intensified with the proliferation of ethnic news outlets, generating divergent reporting and tensions. Platforms such as Facebook and Telegram amplify this polarisation through the dissemination of false information and hate speech, fuelling ethnic divisions and violence, as well as political instability, undermining public trust in the media and jeopardising democracy and social cohesion. To address these issues, the proposed initiative has brought together 32 major news editors from print, broadcast, and online platforms for regular dialogue sessions. Implemented during the 2023/24 season with support from International Media Support, this project laid a foundation for depolarising Ethiopian media and fostering solidarity among media gatekeepers. These sessions focused on countering information disorder in the digital space, conducting media self-regulation, engaging in collaborative action on media regulations, and promoting public interest journalism. By facilitating these dialogues, the initiative aimed at creating a more cohesive media environment that can collectively address challenges and support democratic processes in Ethiopia.

Presenter:

AYELE Derese Nigatu

Derese Nigatu, with an academic background in literature and communication, has been a prominent figure in Ethiopian independent media for 22 years. Starting as a reporter, he rose to editor-in-chief at leading newspapers. He has produced and directed over 15 documentaries on social issues. Derese's expertise spans journalism and strategic communication, advising public and private entities, developing process manuals, and consulting for agencies like UNICEF in Ethiopia. He has led national and international campaigns on societal behavioral changes in collaboration with government and stakeholders. Founding member of the Editors’ Guild of Ethiopia, he now serves as its Executive Director.