UL event brings global experts to discuss ‘era of political and economic dislocation’

University of Limerick hosted global experts, policy makers and academics at a high-profile event aimed at ‘challenging hate’ this week. Professor Jennifer Schweppe, Director of the Centre for the Study of Hate and Inequalities; Dr Ebun Joseph, Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism, Ireland; Professor Barbara Perry, UNESCO Chair in Hate Studies; Charlotte Gilmartin, Head of the Gender Equality Policies Unit, Secretary to the Gender Equality Commission, Council of Europe. Pic Arthur Ellis

Global experts attending an event at University of Limerick have said that society is in an era of ‘political and economic dislocation’

UL hosted global experts, policy makers and academics at a high-profile event aimed at ‘challenging hate’ this week.

The Centre for the Study of Hate and Inequalities (formerly the European Centre for the Study of Hate) at UL, in association with the Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) of the Council of Europe, presented a two-day conference, Challenging Hate: Protecting Human Rights and Strengthening Democracy.

The conference was held in response to the adoption by the Council of Europe of Recommendations on combating hate speech and combating hate crime, creating a comprehensive human rights framework for challenging hate across Europe.

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Taking place across May 28 – 29, the conference gathered leading experts from the legal and political landscapes, academia, and activism to discuss the scope and potential impact of the Recommendations, as well as means by which they can be put into operation locally, nationally and internationally.

Among the high-profile speakers at the conference was Professor Barbara Perry, UNESCO Chair of Hate Studies, who commented on the timeliness of discussions around hate, hate crimes, and diversity and inclusion at the highest level.

“We are in an era of political and economic dislocation,” began Professor Perry.

“Precarity of work and even of life in some quarters renders individuals and communities vulnerable to the exploitation of their fears and anxieties. Right-leaning political leaders, online influencers and pop culture icons lean into conspiracy theories and hate fuelled narratives that provide easy answers to very complex struggles. As we have seen in the American case, in particular, this strategy has yielded incredible wealth and the concentration of power among a very select few.”

Professor Perry, who is the founding Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, also highlighted the importance of the conference in pushing the discussion forward among leading figures and key influencers within the space.

“Through a number of governmental and non-governmental entities – the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), for example – Europe has taken the lead in formulated human rights-based approaches to legislating, countering and challenging hate in its many guises. That is not to say it is without its limitations,” said Professor Perry.

“Open conversations in the context of such conferences about emerging challenges, about gaps in policy and programming, and other high-level issues keep the momentum flowing. They are opportunities to air concerns, to share new findings and insights, and to build the kinds of partnerships and alliances that allow us to push back against the local and global patterns that give rise to hate.”

In a pre-recorded address to conference attendees, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said there is “no place for hate or intimidation in our society”.

“Responding to these challenges is not just about rules or regulations; it’s also about building stronger communities and helping people feel connected to one another … Very often, when people meet, talk, and share experiences, they realise that they have more in common than what separates them. That matters, because stronger communities help create stronger democracies,” said Minister O’Donovan.

Addressing attendees of one of the plenary sessions, UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins went on to emphasise the “vital role” of universities in confronting the realities of hate and acknowledged the pioneering work of the Centre.

“This conference reflects the strength of that approach here at University of Limerick, where the Centre for the Study of Hate and Inequalities continues to foster collaboration between academia, policymakers and civil society. At a time when equality itself can be politicised, it is more important than ever that we defend evidence, uphold academic freedom, and work together, locally and globally, to protect human dignity and strengthen our democratic values,” said Professor Kilcommins.

Professor Jennifer Schweppe, Director of the Centre for Hate and Inequalities, said, “Challenging and combating the continuum of hate has been core to the human rights project since its inception.

“It is vital that all 46 member states of the Council of Europe consider and implement the Recommendations and develop a comprehensive framework to address hate speech and hate crime. We cannot be complacent about this, and we must act to ensure the rule of law is protected and societies are safe for all.”

Other distinguished speakers at the conference included Judge Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights; Dr Ebun Joseph, Special Rapporteur on Racism, Ireland; Stephanie Öner, Chairperson of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Hate Crime; and Professor Kehinde Andrews, academic and author at Birmingham City University, who established the first Black Studies programme in Europe.

The Centre for the Study of Hate and Inequalities (SHINE), established at UL in 2020, was uniquely placed to host this conference in association with CDADI. Since its establishment at UL in 2020, the Centre’s work across research and scholarship facilitated the development of Ireland’s first hate crime legislation. Today, it is now counted as one of the prestige research centres on hate studies internationally.