Building upon the success of the Coalition of Positive Messengers to Counter Online Hate Speech project (2016-2018), we are preparing to start the implementation a new action against hate speech online. SDA will again lead a coalition of highly experienced and motivated partners from seven countries (Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania) to engage with young people, civil society activities, internet providers, and policymakers to counteract hate speech. The project proposes a strategy of education, awareness and empowerment, in order to help young people and educators better grasp the nature of online hatred; project activities will raise awareness of the origins of prejudices and the roots of hostility towards the ‘digital’ Other, and will aim to disavow the attitude of ‘digital bystanders’. In the course of two years, we will train teachers and students on human rights and hate speech; design a multilingual Hate Out! online game for decoding hate speech and creating counter narratives; bring together stakeholders (civil society, journalists, educators, social media, public bodies) to raise awareness on hate speech online.

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Consortium
Sofia Development Association (SDA, Coordinator), Bulgaria
Asociatia Divers, Romania
Forma.Azione, Italy
Future Needs Management Consulting LTD, Cyprus
Hellenic Open University, Greece
ZARA - Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus Arbeit, Austria
Udruge Centar za Mir, Nenasilje i Ljudska Prava, Croatia

Project name: Learn, Engage, Act: Digital Tools to Prevent and Counter Hate Speech Online

Project acronym: LEAD-Online

Project duration: 1 March 2022 – 28 February 2024

The project is funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.