Mapping and Countering Hate: SMIDGE Workshop at the Council of Europe’s No Hate Speech Week 2025

From 17 to 20 June, Inclusive Europe participated in the Council of Europe’s No Hate Speech Week 2025, joining over 100 international stakeholders in a united call to action against hate speech across Europe. The event was held in Strasbourg and organised by the Council of Europe’s Anti-discrimination Department of the Council of Europe in the framework of a EU-CoE joint project and supported by the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe.

On Wednesday, 18 June, Inclusive Europe showcased recent findings from the SMIDGE project and co-hosted a participatory workshop, in collaboration with the Justice for Prosperity Foundation, titled "Map and Counter Hate Narratives on Social Media: The Narratives and Actors". The session offered critical insights into how hate narratives are weaponised by anti-rights movements to undermine democratic values, both within Europe and globally.

Participants were guided through a collaborative process to map harmful narratives and begin co-creating counter-narrative materials that can be used to challenge hate speech online.

The week brought together a wide range of participants, including civil society organisations, equality bodies, public institutions, and representatives from the tech sector. The event featured dynamic plenary sessions, in-depth workshops, and a vibrant networking fair, all designed to foster collaboration and reinforce both legal frameworks and grassroots initiatives to address hate in all its forms.Throughout the week, discussions highlighted the real-world consequences of hate speech: from the fear and psychological trauma it inflicts to its corrosive impact on public discourse. Speakers examined how digital platforms and disinformation algorithms can accelerate the spread of hate, emphasising the pressing need for cross-sectoral, coordinated action to dismantle the structures that allow it to flourish.

No Hate Speech Week 2025 reaffirmed a collective commitment to strengthening both legal protections and community-led efforts to build a Europe free from hate.