This report is part of the Preventing Redressing & Inhibiting hate Speech in new Media (PRISM) Project, coordinated by Associazione Arci and implemented in five partner countries, Italy, France, Spain, Romania and UK, with financial support from the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme of the European Union. The project aims to develop effective strategies and practices for promoting the better use of language, a culture of respect and the consequences of hate speech.

The report examines the European and international law principles applicable for the prevention and repression of hate crimes, and in particular, hate speech. It analyses the role of international law, the European Union, and the Council of Europe in tackling hate-based crimes, and the relationships between hate speech and racism, discrimination, and freedom of expression.

The paper also contains a comparative analysis of national legislation and its effectiveness on hate crime and hate speech across the union. Moreover, the study offers in-depth national reports that examine the respective legal frameworks and procedures, existing procedural and reporting mechanisms and jurisprudence related to discrimination, hate crime, hate speech.