Current best practices

• Author: Irma Baraku
• Pages: 85-85

85

10 CURRENT BEST PRACTICES

Over the years, the CPD has examples of best practice in dealing wit h hate speech based

on grounds of ethnicity, language, sexual orientation and gender identity, under the

prohibition of harassm ent as a form of discrimination. In 2019, the Alliance Against Hate

was established under a memorandum of cooperation between th e CPD, the People’s

Advocate and the Audio-visual M edia Authority (AMA), which ha ve committed themselves

to working together to promote an d advocat e the fight against hate speech and

discrimination in Albania. The Alliance Against Hate constitutes a united approach in

seeking to:

- develop communication and information mat erials to raise awarene ss and promote

diversity and freedom of expression, including brochures, reports and campaigns

using public service announcements so that they reach their target audience and

wider society;

- boost collaboration with strategic partner organisations and ag encies with important

roles in the fight against discrimination , such as the Ministry of Education, Youth

and Sports, internet service providers (ISPs), journalist organisations, civil society

organisations, and consumer protection organisations.

- support partners in identifying effective mecha nisms to combat hate s peech based

on European best practices;

- identify mechanisms for the enhancement of information sharing and staff

training.204

In a 2019 press release, the Commissioner for Protecti on from Discrimination reacted to

online hate speech that had been directed at compatriots.205 He welcomed the State

Police action to investigate and prosecute two cases of online hate speech concerning the

religious beliefs of Albanians in Northern Macedonia and Kos ovo206 that were ma de public

in the m edia. The CPD reconfirmed its willingness to cooperate with institutions with the

aim of preventing the use of discriminatory expressions that affect human dign ity.207

The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimin ation also condemned the use of hate

speech in repeated incidents in stadiums connected with ethnicity and race, and in insults

made via social media against vulnerable groups su ch as Roma, Egyptians and

representatives of the LGBTI community.

204 See https://www.coe.int/en/web/tirana/-/-no-hate-alliance-a-joint-approach-against-discrimination-and-

hate-speech.

205 See https://www.kmd.al/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Newsletter-KMD-gusht-2019.pdf.

206 This designation is made without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UN Security Council

Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

207 More information on these cases is not available.