This is a reference for Ragıp Zık

Developing Counter and Alternative Narratives to Hate Speech through Human Rights Education

The training activity took place
in Strasbourg, France
organised by Council of Europe
20-25 March 2017

Aims & objectives

The training course aimed to develop the competences of youth workers and educators to work with young people to develop counter and alternative narratives to hate speech based on the manual ‘WE CAN’.

Objectives
- to identify the underlying narratives behind hate speech that undermine human rights and democratic values and how they function online
- to understand the functioning of effective counter and alternative narratives in denouncing hate speech among young people
- to gain the competences to use the action-oriented step-by-step guide to develop counter and alternative narratives with young people
- to develop proposals for off- and online initiatives that integrate the manual in education and campaign practices in support of the campaign against hate speech
- to be able to counter discriminatory and hateful narratives and mobile others to promote the alternative narratives

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The international team constituted of 4 trainers plus the course director.

35 participants came from various European countries. They were campaign activists, youth workers and educators active with young people on combatting hate speech through awareness-raising and educational activities.

Training methods used & main activities

Non formal education was the main approach of the training course. This included simulation exercises, role-plays, open debates, group work, workshops, participant-led sessions and the like.

Outcomes of the activity

At the end of the the activity, the participants:

- understood the functioning of narratives online
- analysed the narratives underlying hate speech and their effect on young people
- explored the function of counter and alternative narratives in promoting human rights and democratic principles and competences including respect for diversity, dealing with ambiguity and conflicting opinions, critical thinking, intercultural learning, respect for human dignity, solidarity and empathy
- practiced the step-by-step guide by developing specific counter and alternative narratives to combat hate speech
- developed initiatives to use and disseminate the manual online and offline within the framework of the campaign

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

As a member of the trainers' team I developed the course methodology and approach, designed sessions, suggested modules, conducted program activities on-site, and ran evaluation processes.

I worked on this training for 5 days as a full time trainer.

back to top