WESTERN BALKANS

LGBTIQ-Meet-Up against Hate Speech & Hate Crimes

From 19-21 April, activists and representatives of various human rights organizations, NGOs and think tanks from the Western Balkans came together in Ečka, Serbia to discuss the omnipresent topic of hate crime and hate speech.

The multi-day event supported by FNF Western Balkans and hosted by partner organization Da Se Zna!, was planned and realised in close cooperation with representatives of Projekt:Polska.

The first working day, Michal Sawicki, Michal Tecza and Milosz Hodun from Projekt:Polska sensitized the participants about the differences between expressing opinions and hate speech and the dangers they pose/ that it brings. Following that, the next day started with the question of “How to fight against hate speech”. Specifically how stereotypes become prejudges and end up in hate speech or even hate crime. A country comparison examined how politicians use hate speech in times of populism and fake news. Last point of the day was about discussing preventive tools of how to safeguard children and young people from experiencing hate speech.

The next working day Human Rights Lawyer Milan Antonijević, talked about challenges and problems in implementing Article 54a in Serbia and the region of Western Balkans, therefore he referred to some examples of practice.

Danijel Kalezić, a member of the LGBTI NGO ERA gave some answers to the question about where space can be found to make things better. He mentioned the possibilities of working together, to improve the current situation and fight against hate crimes side by side. Finally yet importantly, Bojan Lazić from Da Se Zna! presented the case study “Euro Pride 2022” which shows, that there are some dangerous connections between hate speech and hate crime.

These three days were characterized by a lively exchange of knowledge and own experience, many discussions and the will of developing solutions. In the end, the participants agreed that the best way of finding solutions is fighting and working together. Therefore, a new network to fight hate speech and prevent hate crime in the Western Balkans is to be established.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is dedicated to continue its work in the field of hate speech and hate crime prevention and would like to thank Da Se Zna!, Projekt:Polska and all participants for the successful meet-up.