Project Description

This EU/CoE joint project aims to prevent and combat intolerant discourse and hate speech, as well as other forms of violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) across Europe by: (i) building on Council of Europe standards and best practices from Member States; (ii) supporting the implementation of European policies, strategies and initiatives of public authorities, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, at local, national and European level, to achieve coherent, coordinated and effective responses.

 Key Objectives

1. Create and support a European coalition of civil society organisations and other stakeholders, as well as public authorities at the national and local levels, in creating and implementing strategies to achieve effective, coherent and coordinated responses in combatting violence, hate speech, and intolerant discourse towards LGBTIQ persons across Europe;
2. Identify relevant national and international legal and policy measures and examples of best practices representing effective and quick responses to violence and hate speech against LGBTIQ people; and
3. Support public authorities and civil society organisations involved in the development and dissemination of tools based on the respect of human rights and European values to counter violence, hate speech and intolerant discourse against LGBTIQ people.     

Project Activities

• Roundtable to set up the coalition of stakeholders to promote effective strategies addressing SOGIESC-based hate speech and violence.
• Peer exchanges, and consultations involving all project stakeholders to share and collect knowledge, experience and insight on promising strategies and practices to counter hate speech targeting LGBTIQ people.
• Research and analysis of the perceptions and root causes contributing to anti-LGBTIQ disinformation, negative stereotyping, hate speech, and incitement to violence.
• Analysis of strategies, awareness raising campaigns and initiatives to counter and prevent anti-LGBTIQ hate speech and violence.
• Development of a toolkit to include:
  • A Guide with strategies to address anti-LGBTIQ hate speech and violence
  • A Guide to devise awareness raising/trainings that target and engage with perpetrators of SOGIESC-based hate speech
  • A Manual for public authorities to devise and conduct training programmes for those involved in preventing and combating hate speech
  • A toolkit with communication tools developed in cooperation with faith-based groups & institutions.
• Development of communication materials.
• Assistance to public authorities in developing effective policy, legislation and awareness raising strategies.
• Provision of training for public authorities’ representatives.
• Provision of training for law-enforcement on hate-speech and violence against LGBTIQ persons.
• Peer-to-peer exchanges and workshops for:
  • Legal professionals and judiciary
  • Faith-based institutions
  • Range of stakeholders focusing on specific thematic areas
  • Media and journalists

 Context

While in recent years significant gains have been registered with regards to non-discrimination and equal rights of LGBTI persons in Europe, the current environment is marked by an increase in intolerance and continued real-life discrimination against LGBTI people, including hate speech and stigmatisation, alarmingly widespread instances of hate crimes, and legislative steps to roll back established rights. The rise in hatred is not simply an expression of individual prejudice, but the result of sustained and often well-organised campaigns to diminish or hinder access to  human rights for LGBTI people throughout the European continent.

A coherent and comprehensive approach is therefore needed to confirm the support for advancing human rights as regards LGBTIQ persons through raising awareness and providing relevant stakeholders with the necessary tools to counter intolerant narratives and hate speech in accordance with the EU LGBTI Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2025 and Council of Europe Standards.

 Beneficiaries

Public authorities, faith-based organisations, journalists, law enforcement officials, lawyers, prosecutors, judges, civil society organisations and other international organisations.

 Duration

36 months (November 2023 – October 2026)

 Funding

European Union and Council of Europe

 Budget

€1,334,000