In view of the current discourse around LGBTIQ rights in Poland, on 20 February 2025, the SOGIESC Unit of the Council of Europe, in collaboration with Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH), organised a training session on fair, accurate and inclusive reporting on LGBTIQ rights for media professionals and journalists at the National Library of Poland in Warsaw.

Participants were welcomed by Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland; Magdalena Dropek, Department for Equal Treatment, Chancellery of the Prime Minister in Warsaw and Karina Węgrzynowska, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Warsaw.

This event was part of the EU/CoE joint project “Combating Anti-LGBTIQ Violence and Hate Speech, and Strengthening Awareness and Fact-based Narratives about LGBTIQ People.”

The training provided journalists, media professionals, and content creators with a comprehensive understanding of the current legal and social situation of LGBTIQ persons in Poland. It covered the principles of inclusive language, key SOGIESC terminology, and the ethical responsibility of media in reporting on LGBTIQ issues to prevent hate speech and crime. The session emphasized the importance of promoting positive and diverse LGBTIQ narratives while avoiding discrimination, and highlighted resources for further information, including expert sources and key organizations.

The training was led by an expert from Poland, to provide insight into the local context, as well as an expert with a journalistic background, to address the professional aspects related to journalism.