Webinar on Countering Hate Speech
The Webinar on ‘Countering Hate Speech’ took place online via the Symbiosis’ digital Education Platform during the months of June and July 2023. Forty -five participants coming from the civil society, education, media and public administration sectors investigated the topic during thirty hours of seminars by experts, including lectures, exercises and assignments, discussions, as well as extensive study material. By addressing both the online and offline aspects of hate speech and bringing together diverse experts and participants, the Webinar fostered a deeper understanding of the impact of hate speech and equipped participants with valuable strategies to counter it in different environments.
Recognising the profound impact of hate speech, extending well beyond individual experiences and impacting the public sphere and discourse, the webinar sought to provide a wide range of diverse perspectives, shedding light on the workings and damaging effects of hate speech and discussing ways to counter its effects.
The first session aimed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of hate speech and explore the role of misinformation and disinformation in perpetuating hate speech. It emphasized the urgent need for media literacy and critical thinking skills to challenge and debunk hateful ideologies and underscored the role of quality journalism in countering hate speech through accurate reporting, fact-checking, and adherence to ethical standards. The session also focused on the standards and initiatives implemented by the Council of Europe in the fight against hate speech.
The second session focused on examining gender-based hate speech and its detrimental effects, providing a comprehensive understanding of hate speech targeting individuals based on their gender, highlighting how this undermines equality, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and restricts freedom of expression. Real-life examples and case studies offered insights into the dynamics and impact of this form of hate speech. The session aimed to equip participants with practical strategies and initiatives to effectively address gender-based hate speech, emphasising the importance of creating inclusive and respectful environments that empower people, regardless of their gender.
The last session explored countering online hate speech and empowering educational communities to create safe and inclusive digital environments. The session unpacked the multifaceted nature of online hate speech, emphasising identification and reporting, as well as challenges associated with addressing it. It also highlighted the crucial role of educational institutions in fostering democratic competences and promoting inclusivity, empathy and respect, while it discussed promising practices that can be implemented within educational communities to foster safe, brave and inclusive offline and online environments. Through hands-on training exercises, participants actively applied the strategies learned, gaining a deeper understanding of how to effectively confront and counteract hate speech.
Session 1: Countering Hate Speech
1.1 Unmasking the Shadows Combating Hate Speech – Exposing Fake News and Disinformation
Speaker: Ljubisa Vrencev, Co-founder of Symbiosis – Council of Europe School of Political Studies in Greece
1.2 Council of Europe standards on combating hate speech
Speaker: Dezideriu Gergely, Programme Manager at the Directorate Anti-discrimination – Roma and Travellers Team, Council of Europe
Discussions, exercises, audiovisual material, assignments, study references
Session 2: Breaking Barriers, Empowering Voices: Combating Gender-Based Hate Speech
2.1 Sexism and Sexist Hate Speech
Speaker: Cécile Gréboval, Programme Manager and Gender Equality Advisor at the Gender Equality Division of the Council of Europe
2.2 Breaking the Chains of Hate: Empowering Gender Equality in the Fight Against Hate Speech
Speaker: Nicole Petalidou, Psychologist
2.3 Unveiling the Rainbow: Tackling Hate Speech against the LGBTQI+ Communities
Speaker: Apostolis Karabairis, EuroPride Coordinator, political scientist
Discussions, exercises, audiovisual material, assignments, study references
Session 3: Beyond Words: Exploring Strategies to Address Online Hate Speech and Empower Educational Communities
3.1 Hate speech online identification, reporting and related challenges
Speaker: Maryna Manchenko, Project Manager CESIE
3.2 Reconstruct and Empower
Interactive exercises designed to combat hate speech, fostering new perspectives and equipping for change.
Discussions, audiovisual material, assignments, study references
