Council of Europe publishes tools to facilitate the implementation of CM/Rec(2022)16 on combating hate speech

IRIS 2025-4:1/1

Cesare Pitea

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe has published a compilation of promising practices on combating hate speech at national level and a self-assessment tool to prevent and combat hate speech focusing on the implementation of relevant aspects of Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)16 on combating hate speech. The two documents, prepared by an expert, were endorsed by the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) and the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI).

The compilation highlights a range of promising practices by governments and other key stakeholders, including media service providers and media regulators, consistent with the recommendation during its early implementation period, with a view to offering concrete guidance for further developing “good practices” that fulfil the recommendation’s aims and objectives.

The self-assessment tool identifies actionable points across all key objectives relevant to the implementation of CM/Rec(2022)16. Intended to prompt reflective and critical conversations, it is organised into seven chapters in line with the recommendation. Within the context of each chapter, a key objective and relevant action areas are identified, to be read in conjunction with the related part of the recommendation and its accompanying explanatory memorandum. A series of reflective prompts under each action point is there to guide users towards a critical appraisal of their existing practice, with suggested follow-up measures highlighted beneath these. In this framework, the relevant self-regulatory or regulatory bodies are encouraged to develop and implement a code of ethics for journalists and media outlets. Such a code should include guidelines for reporting on sensitive issues related to hate speech and encourage responsible journalism that respects diversity and avoids stereotyping, with regular training sessions for media professionals on these topics.


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This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.