ILGA-Europe unites with 21 other civil society organizations and unions for EU election campaign free from intolerance

MEDIA RELEASE

11 March 2019

For immediate release

#ElectNoHate appeal launch: ILGA-Europe unites with 21 other civil society organisations and unions for EU election campaign free from intolerance

ILGA-Europe and 21 other civil society organisations and unions today launch #ElectNoHate, our joint call for EU elections campaigning free from hate speech and divisive rhetoric, which legitimise hateful actions and pose a threat to human rights.

MEP candidates, politicians, the media and those in the public eye are asked not only to avoid engaging in, or amplifying, rhetoric that may incite discrimination, prejudice or hatred on any grounds, but also to actively counter it.

The diversity of organisations behind this appeal – working across the EU for justice in the areas of human rights, labour rights, development and the environment – reflects how hate speech and divisive rhetoric inextricably pervade and threaten all aspects of our lives, most notably in the context of populism and extremism.

Not only is the report (on which the final PACE resolution is based) the first of its kind from an international institution, it’s a critical reminder for the world that the repression of the LGBTI communities in Chechnya is not over.” said Evelyne Paradis, ILGA-Europe Executive Director in reaction to the vote.

“At a time when hate speech and divisive rhetoric cause a worrying backlash and backsliding for all human rights across Europe, ILGA-Europe considers it crucial to unite with a broad and diverse alliance of organisations to take a clear stand againsthate speech and divisive rhetoric targeting any community.” commented ILGA-Europe’s Executive Director Evelyne Paradis.

She added: “The protection of one group must never be used as an excuse for discriminating against others. This is why all EU election candidates signing ILGA-Europe’s ComeOutpledge are also requested to sign the #ElectNoHate appeal.”

In Europe and elsewhere, recent evidence highlights how hate speech and divisive rhetoric lead to harm in everyday life.

A 147% spike in homophobic and transphobic hate crimes (1) and a 41% increase in the number of racially or religiously aggravated crimes (2) following the Brexit referendum campaign is a stark example of this. Women – who are in general 27 times more likely than men to be harassed online (3) – also experience exceptionally high levels of violence in politics, with 85.2% of women reporting having suffered psychological violence while in office. (4)

The list of signatories are as follows:

Amnesty International Europe

A.R.T Fusion Romania

Associazione Crea

Corporate Europe Observatory

Culture Action Europe

European Alternatives

European Disability Forum

European Movement International

European Network Against Racism

European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network

European Trade Union Confederation

Fern

Friends of the Earth

Greenpeace

Human Rights Without Frontiers

IGLYO

ILGA-Europe

IPPF European Network

Light for the World International

Riksförbundet För Sexuell Upplysning

Social Platform

TGEU

To learn more about #ElectNoHate visit www.comeout.eu/no-hate.

 

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For more information, please contact: 
Niamh Cullen, ILGA-Europe Senior Communications and Media Officer, niamh@ilga-europe.org+32 497 83 23 24