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Description
Publications by CSOs and university bodies show that prejudice and hate speech is steadily increasing in Polish society. People who belong to minorities experience physical and verbal abuse in schools and in cyberspace. At the same time, schools are abandoning discrimination prevention awareness programs due to statements made by people in government and the persuasive arguments of some organizations. The project includes a series of workshops, webinars, and online courses for people interested in conducting classes on preventing discrimination, and Loesje method workshops for young people. The measures are intended for people all over Poland, but in the online courses people from the smaller towns will be given priority. There will also be an awareness campaign to improve the image of measures to raise awareness of discrimination prevention and the people conducting it, and educational content will be posted on social media. The project will enable more than 700 people to develop discrimination prevention awareness-raising skills, and will also improve the image of discrimination prevention awareness-raising.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of constantly increasing level of prejudice and hate speech in Polish society. Hate speech concerning refugee, LGBTQ people, women, members of religious and ethnic minorities regularly appears in the public debate. Such a narrative is supported by some politicians and church hierarchies, including local governments which established so-called ''LGBT-free zones'', thus legitimising hate speech and violence motivated by prejudice. Unfortunately, a particularly important area of activity of ultra-right-wing organizations is school, and among the harmful activities undertaken one should mention the "black list" of organizations providing anti-discrimination education or a campaign addressed to parents encouraging them not to consent to the participation of children in human rights initiatives. These actions are part of a planned strategy to reverse cultural achievements such as women''s rights, human rights, sex education or equal treatment of minorities. Effect of these activities is the intimidation of schools and their staff, growing parental anxiety and a negative image of anti-discrimination education.
The project delivered anti-discrimination education courses (basic and intermediate courses) to individuals interested in delivering education and equality activities. These individuals then led similar workshops in their communities. An online Peer Alliance Academy and a course on working with the Loesje method for young people were also held. Five expert webinars and twelve online workshops were conducted on various aspects of anti-discrimination education. The Project Promoteralso launched the ''Week for Anti-Discrimination Education'' campaign, which aimed to promote a positive image of anti-discrimination education and its leaders.
Approximately 900 people involved in formal and informal education, local activism or equality activities in their places of learning or work took part in the project. These people developed their competences in the field of anti-discrimination education, established contacts and cooperation with each other, learned from each other and also were strengthened as educators. Many of them have put the knowledge and skills they have gained into practice by undertaking educational initiatives in their communities. At the same time, the project has improved the image of anti-discrimination education among different social groups.