speech; mobilisation of civil society partners to combat discrimination and better reach out to people. The project carried out participatory and inclusive systemic analyses on hate speech in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine and launched in the Republic of Moldova the 2020 study on this matter. Complementary training activities on combating hate speech, discrimination and hate crime were organised in Armenia (for judges and prosecutors, and for public officials), in the Republic of Moldova (for journalists, for the staff of the Audiovisual Council and for judges and prosecutors) and in Ukraine (for the staff of the Ombudsoffice, as part of a wider course on discrimination, and for the Legal Aid system, also as part of a wider training programme). To raise awareness on the problem of hate speech, the project developed a brochure now translated in national languages from the region, a short video explaining what hate speech is and a series of articles on the consequences of hate and discrimination based on real life stories (first article in the series available here). In Azerbaijan, the project continues its support to the NGO Equality Platform (watch here an awareness raising video and here the live session of a recent webinar) and it advises the Ombudsoffice on strengthening its mandate in the field of non-discrimination, while carrying out training for the regional staff of the Ombudsoffice. In the Republic of Moldova, the project finalised two training for trainers, for Police on equality and for police, prosecutors and judges on hate crime, and discussed their results in the framework of a round table in co-operation with ECRI. In the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Ukraine, the project continues its support to inter-agency efforts for combating discrimination and hate crime through disaggregated data collection. The project has also finalised the adaptations for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova of the manual “Policing hate crime against LGBTI people” and will carry out trainings in the coming period. The project supported regional exchange of practices through six peer equality webinars, an online event on the role of Ombudsoffice in supporting Roma inclusion and a long-term training for equality bodies on counternarratives to hate speech.

On 27 May 2021, the new Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia was promulgated, in view of its entering into force on 1 July 2022. The new Code is a step forward in

obstacles to the realisation of the right to equality faced by women, persons with disabilities, members of religious minorities, LGBT+ people and other groups. The report also assesses the compliance of the regulations imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus with the right to equality. Later in June, the Public Defender also presented a report on the human rights situation in Georgia in 2020 at the plenary sitting of the Parliament of Georgia. According to this report, women, religious minorities, members of the LGBT+ community and persons with disabilities still face the biggest barriers in terms of realisation of the right to equality. In 2020, the Public Defender reviewed 113 cases of alleged discrimination, identifying discrimination in labour relations, discrimination against journalists and sexual harassment. The investigation and prevention of alleged hate crimes remains one of the main problems.

Information Centre carried out in June the social media campaign “I am writing the history of this country”, with the aim of bringing to the front line the stories of different people and how each person influences the life in the Republic of Moldova, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, age, religion, social status. More about the campaign here

easy to use tools, checklists and resources. It will help users develop counter and alternative narratives to promote human rights and democratic principles that push back against hate speech and discriminatory narratives.   The toolkit takes a step-by-step approach. 

The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention after the city in which it opened for signature 10 years ago, on 11 May 2011, is the most far-reaching international legal instrument to set out binding obligations to prevent and combat violence against women. Thirty-four member states of the Council of Europe have ratified it, twelve have signed it – along with the European Union – and it is used as a basis for action by many countries outside Europe. The Istanbul Convention recognises violence against women as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women. Based on a victim-centred approach, it offers practical tools to ensure the protection of women and girls, their safety and empowerment. It links these to the wider goal of achieving equality between women and men. Over the past 10 years, it has guided numerous states in advancing their legislation and policies in order to prevent and combat violence against women effectively. The convention makes a difference for women and girls and represents an important advocacy tool. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary means celebrating its transformative power and uniting behind this landmark treaty.