Hate speech crimes cover “all forms of expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance” (Council of Europe 2016). The internet accounts for the highest share of racist behaviors (84%), compared to the press (10,7%), the TV (4,6%) and the radio (0,8%) and data are constantly on the rise (ISTAT 2011). As for school settings, a report drafted by REDU (September 2016) for Amnesty International on discrimination and bullying in high schools has identified a set of reasons for discrimination including: physical look, nationality, social and cultural backgrounds, sex orientation, disability and religion. Actions aimed to raise awareness and develop empathy, notably through approaches such as peer education, to prevent the establishment of hostile behaviours among children and adolescents are then recognised as fundamental.
The general objective of the project is to promote civic awareness and active responsibilization among young generations in the perspective of realizing a more inclusive society.
Specific objectives:
- Strengthening the professional skills of teachers, public administrators, cultural mediators and activists committed to fight against discrimination, active citizenship and social inclusion;
- Motivating conscious behaviours by children and adolescents to oppose discrimination and hate speech, favoring the implementation and the protection of human rights and of the principles of fairness and justice, using participatory methods and involving local communities.
ICEI will be in charge of testing the Anti-Rumours strategy in several schools of the 4 concerned cities (www.coe.int/en/web/interculturalcities/anti-rumours): this strategy, developed in Barcelona in 2010 as a “city” strategy and promoted in the European Union by the Council of Europe, is aimed to trigger a change in perceptions, attitudes and behaviours among the population at large, in particular by contrasting rumours, fake myths, prejudice and stereotypes we all are carriers of and which are the basis of intolerance and discrimination..
Students and teachers of the last 2 years of primary schools and the whole course of junior secondary schools in 80 Italian cities.
In addition, training on new educational methods will be provided to: cultural mediators, activists, officers and technicians of partner municipalities, members of civil society organisations.
Activities
In order to achieve the objectives, the following main activities will be implemented:
- Residential training and refresher courses for teachers on methods for managing conflicts generated by hate speech through social and community theater and peer education
- Residential training course for cultural mediators on the mediator’s role in local communities to promote respect of differences, active citizenship and prevention of hate speech
- Development of a teaching kit on human rights, active citizenship and prevention of hate speech, and implementation of training courses in classes
- Activation of classes and introduction of a protocol on the promotion of respect for human rights and prevention of hate speech in schools
- Workshops to analyze the language of local media and advertising agencies, children’s dialogue and exchanges with local institutions.
- Design and implementation, by children and adolescents of several classes, of anti-rumour projects to sensibilize their peers within schools and outside, as well as citizens at large, through participatory activities and methods, in order to fight rumours, stereotypes and prejudices.