Status:
IGF Theme(s) for workshop: Security, Openness and Privacy
Main theme question address by workshop: How to promote freedom of expression and human dignity on-line?
Concise description of the proposed workshop:
The Internet offers the possibility of every user/participant to create, publish, distribute and consume media content fostering therefore a space of full participation, engagement and self-expression. Online space, just as offline space, presents new opportunities, challenges and threats to young people. Just as in offline space, young people may equally be victims and agents of abuse and human rights violation. Interaction in online space among different participants in communication, even though democratic and uncensored, cannot and is not to be value-void.
The project Young People Combating Hate Speech On-line builds on the experiences ‘All Different-All Equal’ European youth campaigns and the capacity and competence of young people and youth organisations to act within online space.
The project will mobilise European and national actors through a variety of activities such as training courses, development of educational materials, national seminars and conferences. Central to the project is a European youth media campaign which will be designed and implemented with the agency of young people and youth organisations. The campaign will adopt a positive and pro-active message – a campaign for freedom of expression on-line – while having a clear stance against all forms of racism and discrimination on-line. Youth from groups targeted by on-line hate speech – such as refugees and asylum-seekers, Muslims, LGBT and Roma – will play a particular role in the campaign. A network of young bloggers will form the core of the project and will play a central role in the preparation of an on-line media campaign
The workshop will explore the tensions and dilemmas of human rights on-line activists who use the Internet for promoting a culture of universal human rights and, at the same time, are confronted with various forms of hate speech on-line. How to raise awareness and take action about understanding and living cyber-space as public space without limiting freedom of expression? How to empower and involve targets of hate speech so that they can use the Internet without fear? We'll base the workshop on a survey that we'll conduct among young people across Europe between June and September 2012. The survey and the workshop will contribute to an on-line media youth campaign for human rights and freedom of expression on line.
Background Paper: Young People Combating Hate Speech OnLine Pres.doc
Name of the organiser(s) of the workshop and their affiliation to various stakeholder groups:
Mr Rui GOMES, Council of Europe - Youth Department, Intergovernmental European organisation. Also involved: European and international youth organisations involved in the on-line media campaign; human rights organisations.
Have you, or any of your co-organisers, organised an IGF workshop before?: No
Please provide link(s) to workshop(s) or report(s):
Provide the names and affiliations of the panellists you are planning to invite:
Dr Gavan Titley, Academia, Lecturer in Media Studies; National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Europpe; Not invited yet.
Ms Maria Paschou, Advisory Council on Youth (Council of Europe); non-governmental youth organisations; Europe; Not invited yet.
Emin Milli, blogger and trainer in the project "Young People Combating Hate Speech On-line"; non-governemntal, on-line human rights activist - blogger; not invited yet.
Name of Remote Moderator(s):