International online seminar “Active European Citizens Against Hate Speech”

International online seminar “Active European Citizens Against Hate Speech”, 5 October, 11.00 – 16.00 EEST

Latvian Human Rights Centre in cooperation with its partner organizations “Multi Kulti Collective” (Bulgaria), “Human Rights House Zagreb” (Croatia), “Estonian Human Rights Centre” (Estonia), “Participation for All” (Latvia), “Human Rights Monitoring Institute” (Lithuania), “Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania – PATRIR” (Romania) is organizing an online international seminar “Active European Citizens Against Hate Speech” on hate speech and its impact on vulnerable groups, young people and society in general on 5th October.

Hate speech is often used as a tool to target different vulnerable groups, especially minorities, immigrants and refugees. It causes their alienation and exclusion which leads to marginalization. Such narratives weaken democracy and strengthen positions of far-right and radical right populists and Eurosceptics.

During the interactive seminar participants will:

• Discover the latest trends and developments in regard to hate speech in the European Union and European countries in particular;

• Learn how hate speech promotes Euroscepticism and threatens democratic values;

• Discuss what actions needed to be taken to combat hate speech effectively and strengthen democratic values;

• Share best practices on youth work approaches in combating hate speech and civil participation of vulnerable groups in the prevention of hate speech/promotion of tolerance.

The seminar will be attended by participants-experts from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia.

The seminar is open for a diverse group of participants – human rights organizations, NGOs working with vulnerable groups (minorities, migrants, refugees etc.), youth organizations and youth workers, experts and policymakers working with the topic of intolerance and hate speech.

The seminar is based on methods of non-formal education and envisages active participation of each participant. During the seminar, everyone will have the opportunity to be actively involved, express their own views, share experience, work in groups, and take part in one of the workshops.  Therefore, we would like to ask the participants to join the online seminar using computer, camera and microphone in order to be able to take part in interactive activities.

Organizers of the event expect participants to be present for all sessions of the seminar. The participants who will take part in all sessions, will receive certificates of attendance.

The programme is here.

The working language of the seminar is English.

To register for the online seminar, please fill in the online registration form https://forms.gle/CQDXzy3kZdkHF9qB9 until 27 September.

We highly appreciate your participation!

The seminar is organized in the framework of the project “Active European Citizens Against Hate Speech”. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the new generation of European citizens about the impact of hate speech on democratic participation and European values. The project is implemented by the “Latvian Centre for Human Rights” (project coordinator), “Participation for All” (Latvia), “Estonian Human Rights Centre”, “Human Rights Monitoring Institute” (Lithuania), “Multi Kulti Collective” (Bulgaria), “Human Rights House Zagreb” (Croatia), “Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania – PATRIR”.

The project is co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union.