28 April 2026 at 09:00 — 28 April 2026 at 09:15
Arrival and registration of the participants
28 April 2026 at 09:15 — 28 April 2026 at 10:00
Welcome and introduction to the programme

Menno Ettema – Head of Unit - Hate Speech, Hate Crime & Artificial Intelligence (AI), Council of Europe

Representative from the Human Rights Directorate, Malta

Elena Haig, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission

28 April 2026 at 10:00 — 28 April 2026 at 11:00
Tour de table

Introduction of the participants - each participant will say a few words about their background and experience

28 April 2026 at 11:00 — 28 April 2026 at 11:30
Coffee break
28 April 2026 at 11:30 — 28 April 2026 at 13:00
Identifying challenges faced in investigating and prosecuting criminalised hate speech

World Café - participants are divided into 4 groups and discuss the challenges - which they thought through before the workshop - at four tables facilitated by four experts 

28 April 2026 at 13:00 — 28 April 2026 at 14:00
Lunch break
28 April 2026 at 14:00 — 28 April 2026 at 15:30
Which of the identified challenges in investigating and prosecuting criminalised hate speech should be addressed by the manual?

Presentations by speakers, discussion

28 April 2026 at 15:30 — 28 April 2026 at 16:00
Coffee break
28 April 2026 at 16:00 — 28 April 2026 at 17:15
Positive practices in investigating and prosecuting criminalised hate speech

Participants are divided into 2 groups - law enforcement officers and prosecutors - each participant is invited to present a positive practice (around 7’ per participant)

28 April 2026 at 17:15 — 28 April 2026 at 17:30
Closing session
28 April 2026 at 18:00 — 28 April 2026 at 21:00
Social Dinner
29 April 2026 at 09:00 — 29 April 2026 at 09:15
Arrival and registration of the participants
29 April 2026 at 09:15 — 29 April 2026 at 09:45
ODIHR’s practical guide “Hate Crime Prosecution at the Intersection of Hate Crime and Criminalised 'Hate Speech'”

Presentation

Marharyta Zhesko, ODIHR

29 April 2026 at 09:45 — 29 April 2026 at 10:45
CoE manual on investigating and prosecuting criminalised hate speech - scope, methodology, structure

Presentation and discussion

Piotr Godzisz, consultant, Council of Europe

Anna Mazurczak, consultant, Council of Europe

29 April 2026 at 10:45 — 29 April 2026 at 11:15
Q&A/open discussion based on the presentations
29 April 2026 at 11:15 — 29 April 2026 at 11:45
Coffee break
29 April 2026 at 11:45 — 29 April 2026 at 13:00
Positive practices in investigating and prosecuting criminalised hate speech (cont’d)

Participants are divided into 2 groups - law enforcement officers and prosecutors - each participant is invited to present a positive practice (around 7’ per participant)

29 April 2026 at 13:00 — 29 April 2026 at 14:00
Lunch break
29 April 2026 at 14:00 — 29 April 2026 at 15:45
Case study – hate speech online

Presentation and group discussions – after the case study is presented and participants’ questions are answered, participants discuss the solution in four groups; at the end, the four groups present the results of their discussions

29 April 2026 at 15:45 — 29 April 2026 at 16:15
Coffee break
29 April 2026 at 16:15 — 29 April 2026 at 17:15
Closing and evaluation

Presentation of the next steps and how the participants may be involved

Piotr Godzisz

Anna Mazurczak