Equinet statement on call to action to unite against all forms of hatred: “No place for hate – a Europe united against hatred”
Equinet welcomes and strongly supports the recent communication on “No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred” issued by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The call for action to stand up against hatred and promote tolerance and respect is both timely and crucial in the face of the alarming increase in hate speech and hate crime across Europe, particularly affecting Jewish and Muslim communities.
The commitment, tangible in all EU equality strategies, to reinforce action ac ross various policies, including security, digital, education, culture and sport, is necessary. Still, it is essential to emphasize the need for targeted efforts to address the root causes of hatred and discrimination. We embrace the call for immediate action, and agree with the imperative to recognize that tackling hatred requires not only immediate measures but also comprehensive and structural changes. This should, however, also include prioritizing the strengthening of Equality Bodies and ensuring the active involvement of racialized communities in shaping and implementing policies. A swift adoption and implementation of the Commission’s legislative initiative strengthening Equality Bodies, which play a pivotal role in promoting equal treatment and combating discrimination, is crucial. These bodies need adequate resources, powers, and independence to effectively address systemic issues. Notably, today, many Equality Bodies do not have a clear mandate to respond to acts of hatred and this limits their potential to contribute to tackling these.
Moreover, the involvement and empowerment of racialized communities are essential for crafting effective strategies. Upgrading the Coordinators on anti-racism, combatting antisemitism, and combatting anti-Muslim hatred to Envoys, is a positive step. However, this should be accompanied by ensuring their specific mandate includes equal and meaningful resourcing (both human and financial), and deepening coordination with Member States as well as civil society organisations through EU-funded projects to enhance the impact of these initiatives.
Engaging society as a whole is key to promoting mutual respect and tolerance. Therefore, Equinet welcomes the global perspective taken in recognizing that combating hatred is an international concern, requiring all Europeans to cooperate. The commitment to organizing a high-level anti-hatred conference in early 2024 and subsequent European dialogues for reconciliation demonstrates a proactive approach. We encourage the Commission and the High Representative to ensure the meaningful participation of diverse voices in these initiatives, including from Equality Bodies and relevant civil society organisations.
In an intensified context, where Europe is at a turning point, between the recognition and advancement of rights and the challenges to accommodate as well as celebrate an European society rich in diversity, Equinet joins the call to stand united against all forms of hatred encouraging the EU to adopt targeted efforts to address root and structural causes of discrimination.