This 1.5-day training will take place on 11-12 September 2025 (in person, location TBC, in conjunction with the Policy Formation Working Group meeting and Training: Communicating in hostile environments: hate speech, polarization, misinformation, and politicisation of equality, linked to the Communication Working Group meeting). It is aimed at members of the Policy Formation Working Group.
Background
The increasing prevalence of hate speech especially on social media, amplified by the spread of disinformation, poses significant challenges to equality and non-discrimination across Europe. Equality issues have become a common trope in extremist speech that seeks to polarize and divide societies.
This issue is particularly relevant to Equinet members, who are at the forefront of protecting rights-holders across Europe. Equality Bodies’ awareness-raising efforts are often challenged by increasingly bold tactics by opponents of European values of equality and non-discrimination. As these members work to combat hate speech, they face the dual challenge of navigating rapidly evolving digital landscapes and addressing the nuanced interplay between freedom of expression and protection from discrimination.
Equinet’s mission emphasizes promoting equality, combating discrimination, and ensuring the effective implementation of European anti-discrimination laws. Previous Equinet initiatives, such as the publication “Extending the Agenda. Equality Bodies addressing Hate Speech” and the collaboration on the European Commission’s Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online, as well as a seminar and training underscore the urgency of addressing this issue. These efforts highlighted the need for continued and enhanced engagement, particularly as new forms of disinformation emerge, fuelling divisive narratives and inciting hatred.
Objectives
- Provide an overview of the current landscape, challenges faced by Equality Bodies, strategies and tools used to mitigate their impact
- Identify policy and legal changes required to tackle those issues where applicable
Participants
The target audience of this training is members of the Policy Formation Working Group.
For further information, contact Daris Lewis Recio (daris.lewis@equineteurope.org).