Confronting Islamophobia: Reflections on 15 March
Camilla Portinaro* On 15 March, the international community observes the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, a date designated by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 76/254 to promote a global culture of tolerance, dignity, and peace. The date is also deeply symbolic: it marks the anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque shootings, a horrific act […]
Hate Speech: The Invisible Crime of the New Era
Hongyu Pan * Introduction For a long time, hate speech has often been seen as a cultural or moral problem. Its definitions were largely confined to symbolic or discursive levels. In the digital age, however, this view does not fully capture the harm it can cause. Hate speech shapes social groups and influences individual psychology. […]
Prevention as Policy: Why Governments Should Invest in Early Action
Hongyu Pan * Introduction For many years, governments have relied mainly on punishing crime after it happens, through heavier penalties, longer jail terms, and stricter enforcement. This “reactive” approach is straightforward, easy to implement, and produces immediate but often short-term results. But while it may look effective on the surface, it often fails to prevent […]
The Economic Costs of Ignoring Hate Speech: Why Inaction Is More Expensive Than Prevention
Introduction Public discussions about hate speech usually focus on ethics, human rights, or social cohesion. Yet one dimension remains widely underexplored: the economic cost of failing to address hate speech effectively. As governments, companies, and societies grapple with rising online hostility, the financial consequences of inaction grow increasingly clear. From lost productivity to public health […]
The Accident of Birthplace
Nikoloz Gagnidze Today is International Migrants Day, a moment, perhaps, to step back from the familiar arguments and ask a more basic question of what is it that is actually argued in the political discord? One place to start is with a brief historical rewind. Branko Milanovic reconstructed global income data and found that in […]
Why the Digital Age Demands an International Approach to Regulating Hate Speech
Introduction In an era where communication travels across continents in milliseconds, hate speech has escaped the boundaries of national jurisdictions. A slur posted in one country can target a community thousands of kilometres away, amplified by algorithms and reproduced endlessly in digital memory. This phenomenon, often described as time–space compression, makes traditional, nationally focused regulation […]
The Human Dimension Conference: A United Fight Against Hate Speech
Maria Genet Drejer-Jensen * For Solidarity with OTHERS, participating in this year’s Human Dimension Conference was about more than representation — it was about contributing our experiences into the international human rights dialogue, and making sure that our perception, and the realities we see each day are reflected in policy discussions. The Rise of Right-wing […]
MIPEX 2025: A Roadmap for Inclusive Integration Policies Across Europe
Beyzanur İnal GÖK * When I arrived in Europe as a refugee, I didn’t only cross a border, I stepped into a new system of hopes, paperwork, and unspoken expectations. I believed education and effort would open doors, yet I soon discovered that my degree meant little, that employers hesitated, and that integration was something […]
Freedom of Expression and Its Restrictions in Turkey
İrem Seçkin * Introduction Freedom of expression is considered one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. For societies to progress, for diverse ideas to interact, and for those in power to remain accountable, individuals must be able to express their thoughts without fear. In Turkey, however, there has been a noticeable trend of shrinking space […]
Hate Speech in the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights
Introduction Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of a democratic society. It is essential for individuals to be able to express their thoughts, for public opinion to be shaped freely, and for the preservation of political pluralism. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) protects this right not only for ideas that are […]