The Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP) participated in the Council of Europe’s No Hate Speech Week 2025, held from 17 to 20 June in Strasbourg. IDP joined international stakeholders, including civil society actors, equality bodies, public authorities, and the tech sector, in a powerful collective effort to address and combat hate speech across Europe.
The Week was organised by the Anti-discrimination Department of the Council of Europe, and this year’s No Hate Speech Week brought together over 100 participants under the theme: “Enhance legal and non-legal measures against hate speech through a multi-stakeholder approach.”
The event featured plenary sessions, workshops, and a networking fair, all designed to build stronger partnerships and promote both legal standards and community-led strategies to tackle hate speech in all its forms.
The event was officially opened by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ambassador Francesca Camilleri Vettiger, Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe, Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, and Virginia Gamba, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Acting Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (via video address).
Sessions addressed the dangers of hate speech, from the fear and humiliation it inflicts on individuals to its chilling effect on public discourse, and how algorithms and disinformation increasingly amplify such harmful content.
The discussions highlighted the Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)16, which guides member states on when and how to prohibit hate speech through criminal, civil, or administrative law in alignment with the European Convention on Human Rights. Participants explored examples from the Compilation of Promising Practices and accessed tools from the Knowledge Hub on Combating Hate Speech, reinforcing the role of civil society organisations in delivering both legal and non-legal solutions.
By engaging in No Hate Speech Week 2025, IDP reaffirmed its commitment to standing against hate and promoting inclusive, rights-based societies.
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