Tackling Hate Crime and Hate Speech (THACAS)
Project start date: November 2016
Duration: 23 months
Project Funder: Justice Programme of the European Commission
Lead Partner: People in Need (Slovakia)
Project Partners: Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Lithuania), Szubjektiv Értékek Alapítvány (Hungary), In Iustitia (Czech Republic) and The People for Change Foundation (Malta)
About the Project
With a view of addressing the under-reporting of hate crime and hate speech, this project will use insights from in-depth research to build mutual learning and exchange of practices in particular through the development of training and other tools for promoting the reporting of these crimes. Spanning across five EU countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Lithuania), the project seeks to identify the gaps and challenges for joint action to counter hate crime and to understand the different approaches the participating states have taken towards hate crime and hate speech.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this project is to improve the support for victims of hate crime and hate speech through mutual learning, and to exchange of knowledge on reporting mechanisms.
The specific objectives are as follow:
Background
Hate speech and hate crime incidents, including those committed online, are on the rise in Europe, despite the existence of a robust legal framework being in place. The EU has set out a minimum standard to combat hate crime through the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA. This decision compels EU Member States to punish intentional hate conduct against an individual or group on the grounds of race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. However, some Member States’ such as the UK and Sweden go beyond the EU’s standards and offer greater protection to victims of hate crime.
Hate violence ranges from verbal attacks, through harassment, property damage to physical violence and terrorism. It continues to cause serious harm to individuals, targeted communities and hinders democracy in the EU. Research shows that hate crime and hate speech are often overlooked due to the lack of reporting mechanisms and adequate assistance readily available to victims. Although this appears to be the case in most EU countries, some have better developed tools available for awareness raising and supporting reporting. Hence the project will facilitate exchange of promising practices and available tools across countries.
Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour is criminalised in Malta, as in many countries, but victims of hate crimes and hate speech still hesitate to come forward and report the violence they have encountered. Provisions against hate speech and hate crimes extend from the Criminal Code to the Broadcasting Act, but gaps in awareness among law enforcement authorities, the media and society at large still leave many victims feeling alone in their situation.
The People for Change Foundation’s Role
The People for Change Foundation (PfC) is the national project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta including research, dissemination of promising practices and advocacy. This project is closely linked to other initiatives PfC is conducting, including Report Racism Malta, workshops for law enforcement officers, young people and media professionals (C.O.N.T.A.C.T Project).
Duration: 23 months
Project Funder: Justice Programme of the European Commission
Lead Partner: People in Need (Slovakia)
Project Partners: Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Lithuania), Szubjektiv Értékek Alapítvány (Hungary), In Iustitia (Czech Republic) and The People for Change Foundation (Malta)
About the Project
With a view of addressing the under-reporting of hate crime and hate speech, this project will use insights from in-depth research to build mutual learning and exchange of practices in particular through the development of training and other tools for promoting the reporting of these crimes. Spanning across five EU countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Lithuania), the project seeks to identify the gaps and challenges for joint action to counter hate crime and to understand the different approaches the participating states have taken towards hate crime and hate speech.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this project is to improve the support for victims of hate crime and hate speech through mutual learning, and to exchange of knowledge on reporting mechanisms.
The specific objectives are as follow:
- To identify gaps and challenges in the application of hate crime and hate speech concepts within national legislation, policy and practice;
- To share good practices and foster cooperation in efforts to overcome the underreporting of hate crime and hate speech;
- To develop and establish adequate reporting mechanisms for hate crime and hate speech in the participating Member States’;
- To improve access to professional legal assistance for victims of hate crime and hate speech.
Background
Hate speech and hate crime incidents, including those committed online, are on the rise in Europe, despite the existence of a robust legal framework being in place. The EU has set out a minimum standard to combat hate crime through the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA. This decision compels EU Member States to punish intentional hate conduct against an individual or group on the grounds of race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. However, some Member States’ such as the UK and Sweden go beyond the EU’s standards and offer greater protection to victims of hate crime.
Hate violence ranges from verbal attacks, through harassment, property damage to physical violence and terrorism. It continues to cause serious harm to individuals, targeted communities and hinders democracy in the EU. Research shows that hate crime and hate speech are often overlooked due to the lack of reporting mechanisms and adequate assistance readily available to victims. Although this appears to be the case in most EU countries, some have better developed tools available for awareness raising and supporting reporting. Hence the project will facilitate exchange of promising practices and available tools across countries.
Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour is criminalised in Malta, as in many countries, but victims of hate crimes and hate speech still hesitate to come forward and report the violence they have encountered. Provisions against hate speech and hate crimes extend from the Criminal Code to the Broadcasting Act, but gaps in awareness among law enforcement authorities, the media and society at large still leave many victims feeling alone in their situation.
The People for Change Foundation’s Role
The People for Change Foundation (PfC) is the national project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta including research, dissemination of promising practices and advocacy. This project is closely linked to other initiatives PfC is conducting, including Report Racism Malta, workshops for law enforcement officers, young people and media professionals (C.O.N.T.A.C.T Project).
This Project is funded by the European Union
