European law enforcement and prosecutors met in Malta to develop a manual on effective investigation and prosecution of criminalised hate speech

28-29 April 2026 Valetta, Malta

Around 30 participants from law enforcement and prosecutors across different European countries attended a two-day workshop in Malta to start developing a practical manual on effective investigation and prosecution of criminalised hate speech. The workshop provided the space and opportunity to...

Read More

New guidance issued to countries on limiting use of criminal law to restrict freedom of expression

Excessive limits on freedom of expression harm Europe’s democratic security

10 September 2025 Strasbourg, France

Stifling of freedom of expression via the law is increasingly a problem in Europe. According to data from the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists, there has been a sharp rise in the detention and imprisonment of journalists since 2019. The European Court...

Read More

Preventing and combatting hate crime, including criminalised hate speech, in focus of a conference in Strasbourg

19 June 2025 Strasbourg, France

Criminalising severe forms of hate speech, supporting victims, ensuring co-operation between the police and prosecutors, enhancing the criminal justice system – these are among the key topics of discussions at the Conference on preventing and combating hate crime taking place on 19-20 June in...

Read More

“Hate speech is a challenge to democracy itself” - Council of Europe Secretary General opens No Hate Speech Week in Strasbourg

18 June 2025 Strasbourg, France

“Hate speech is not an isolated issue, but a part of a deeper challenge - to trust, to truth, to democracy itself,” stated Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset at the opening of the No Hate Speech Week in Strasbourg today. “We at the Council of Europe are working towards a New...

Read More

Malta ratified the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems

4 June 2025 Strasbourg, France

On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the Minister of Justice of Malta, Mr Johnathan Attard, deposited the instrument of ratification of the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems...

Read More

Regional workshop on the introduction of the First Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, on Xenophobia and Racism

15 April 2025 Online

On 15 April 2025, the CyberSouth+ project, a joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe implemented by the Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC), organised an online regional workshop on the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime,...

Read More

Council of Europe's No Hate Speech Week 2025 - Call for participants

10 March 2025 Strasbourg, France

The Call for Participants is launched for the No Hate Speech Week 2025, with a deadline for 31 March 2025. The No Hate Speech Week, held 18-20 June 2025, is organised around the International Day for Countering Hate Speech proclaimed by the UN on 18 June. This regional event aims to take stock...

Read More

Cyberviolence Resource presented during the first No Hate Speech Week organised in Strasbourg

20 June 2024 Strasbourg, France

Marked for the first time in 2022, the UN International Day for Countering Hate Speech (18 June) is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the risks posed by hate speech to human rights, democracy and the rule of law and take collective action to implement the principles of the Council of...

Read More

New Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member States on combating hate crime

7 May 2024 Strasbourg, France

On 7 May 2024, a new Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on combating hate crime (CM/Rec(2024)4) was adopted. Among key points, the document mentions that Council of Europe member States should take all necessary measures and dedicate sufficient resources to prevent and...

Read More

Le document de travail sur la cybercriminalité et la liberté d'expression désormais disponible en FR et ES

22 mars 2024 Strasbourg

Le récent document de travail sur la cybercriminalité et la liberté d'expression, préparé dans le cadre du projet Octopus et publié en décembre 2023, est désormais disponible en français et en espagnol. Ce document vise à soutenir les décideurs politiques, les législateurs et les praticiens de la...

Read More