Projects / Freedom from hate: Empowering civil society to counter cyberhate against Roma

Location: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia

Duration: 2 years

What is the programme about?

This project will test and evaluate effective counter narrative campaigns targeting online hate speech against Roma communities in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, and across Europe. The programme will work with civil society organizations (CSOs) in the target countries to develop effective campaigns to challenge online hate speech. From this programme, we want to see an increase in positive and accurate narratives about Roma communities online and enhance the understanding of effective ways of dealing with online hate speech.

Why are we delivering this programme?

Roma communities in these countries are subject to the highest levels of discrimination and social and economic exclusion. In the context of increasing prominence of far-right groups and growing xenophobic discourses, recent years have seen a rising wave in hate speech against Roma. Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia have some of the highest percentages of Roma population and have faced extensive online hate speech against Roma. Counter-narrative campaigns therefor are an acute need.

Roma often live in settlements outside of the urban centre and are so not always visible to the population. Therefore, negative narratives about Roma play a major role in influence people’s perceptions of the community. Cyberhate plays a significant role not only in limiting the online participation of Roma but also in normalising “Anti-Gypsyism” attitudes. Individuals can more easily mask abuse, in anonymity and physical distance, and racist movements are exploiting ‘virality’ within social media to promote such content.

We identified a need to therefore develop effective approaches to combating ‘Anti-Gypsyism’ and promoting public participation of Roma in the internet and social media is an essential need. This is essential to ensuring Roma can leave their lives free from discrimination and hate.

The public participation of Roma themselves, in particular through social media platforms, is fundamental. Such an approach aims to empower Roma as active citizens by supporting the development of online balanced narratives and the critical thinking by internet users.

In addition, this action will also address specific issues faced by Roma women in the target countries: evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that Roma women face even higher levels of social and economic exclusion.

What are we doing?

Training partner CSOs on countering hate speech online

Testing strategies by implementing counternarrative campaigns

Evaluating campaigns to identify best practices

Roundtable discussion with CSOs and IT companies

Lessons learned YouTube videos

Training of trainers session for CSOs

Multiplier trainings for other activists

The programme consortium?

Minority Rights Group Europe (MRGE), based in Hungary, has a long history of coordinating a range of development, media and Roma-specific programmes. MRGE has extensive experience training activists, developing counter narratives, producing and dissemination authoritative materials on minority rights issues (including a major global report in 2014 on Freedom from Hate), and conducting advocacy.

Amalipe Center za mezhduetnicheski dialog i tolerantnost (Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance), based in Bulgary, is a leading Roma organization working for equal integration of Roma. The organization plays a central role organising the Roma civil movement and advocates for Roma integration to government institutions.

Institut ludskych prav (Human Rights Institute), based in Slovakia, works to promote human rights through online and offline campaigns. The organisation has significant experience in tackling online hate speech, including an online campaign on housing issues for marginalised Roma communities.

Romedia Alapitvany, in Hungary, is a regional media organisation run by Roma people. Romedia runs media campaigns to promote awareness and understanding of the Roma community. A recent project involved delivering filmmaking and journalism training for Roma women

Romsko nacionalno vijece (The Roma National Council, RNC), based in Croatia, is an umbrella organization for the protection and promotion of Roma minority rights. The RNC promotes inclusion of Roma while protecting their historical and cultural heritage and promoting their identity.

Fórum pro lidská práva, z. s. (Forum for Human Rights), based in Czech Republic, focuses on international human rights litigation and advocacy in Central Europe. Its lawyers represent several strategic cases in the Czech Republic aimed at fighting discrimination against Roma.

This project is funded by the European Union. This content is the sole responsibility of Minority Rights Group International and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.