Illustration by Maqué Studio
Equality Bodies are essential in fostering inclusive societies by combating hate speech and holding those who spread discrimination accountable.
A Flemish TV documentary exposed the youth movement Schild & Vrienden, led by a former member of the extreme right Vlaams Belang party. The investigation revealed racist content and Holocaust denial shared in closed Facebook and Discord channels. Unia joined the legal proceedings as a plaintiff, contributing to the case against the movement.
Recently, the court convicted the group’s leader and six others for inciting discrimination, hatred, and violence, emphasizing that the leader had promoted a culture enabling harmful ideologies. The court rejected the defendants’ argument that their posts were mere “jokes,” ruling that such humor normalized racism.
While the judgement has been appealed and the case will be reassessed, this ruling already marked important progress in addressing hate speech.
Are you interested in knowing more about how Equinet and Equality Bodies address hate speech?
- In 2018 Equinet published a report “Extending the Agenda: Equality Bodies Addressing Hate Speech” which emphasizes the rising prevalence of hate speech across Europe and the need for equality bodies to have explicit mandates and sufficient resources to combat it effectively. It calls for improved legislation to ensure uniform definitions and empower equality bodies to develop comprehensive strategies against hate speech.
- In 2018 Equinet held a seminar “Not on Our Watch! Equality Bodies Fighting Hate Speech” which focused on understanding hate speech and exploring how equality bodies can manage and prevent it. Participants discussed legal complexities, case law, and practical tools, sharing experiences and strategies to effectively address both online and offline hate speech.
- In 2019 Equinet published a recommendation “Recommendation on combatting discrimination and hate speech in election campaigns” which utlines recommendations for political parties, candidates, and institutions to ensure equality and non-discrimination during election campaigns, emphasizing the role of equality bodies in fostering inclusive democratic processes.
- In 2021 Equine held a training “Persuasive Writing 101 & Tackling Online Hate Speech” which aimed to enhance the persuasive communication skills of equality bodies to effectively counter online hate speech. The hybrid event provided tools for analyzing and deconstructing opposing arguments, enabling participants to craft compelling messages promoting equality and non-discrimination.
- In September 2025 Equinet will hold 2 joint trainings “Tackling hate speech in the times of disinformation and social media” and “Communicating in hostile environments: hate speech, polarization, misinformation, and politicisation of equality“, in conjunction with the Communication and Policy Formation Working groups meetings. Save the date!