Hate Speech is a Crime

Hate speech, according to Lithuanian residents, is inappropriate and they do speak out against it. However, it is often mistakenly attributed to freedom of expression. In fact, people do not consider this a criminal offense. The vast majority are unaware that hate speech is a violation of human rights and can lead to legal liability. It is worrying that 7 out of 10 people who are exposed to hate speech do not report it or seek help.

These results came from the representative opinion survey of Lithuanian residents (in LT) conducted by Vilmorus on behalf of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson.

“Hate Speech is a Crime” campaign aimed to show that hate speech is not simply an opinion or free speech. Whether online or offline, it is a crime that sends the message that people are unwanted, unequal, hated simply because they share the same nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability or skin color.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage people to learn about hate speech, ways to help themselves and others, their rights, and to report when they encounter this phenomenon.

Campaign period: 2021 March-April

Campaign tools:

Videos

Outdoor posters (the texts on posters: online or offline hate speech is a crime)