site.btaBulgarian Cultural Information Center in Bosilegrad to Host Anti-Hate Speech Seminar

A one-day seminar on the topic of Counteracting Hate Speech will be organized by the Cultural and Information Centre (CIC) in Bosilegrad on December 7. It will focus on how to identify and counteract hate speech, fake news, and misinformation.

Local journalists and stakeholders will be joined by representatives from various media outlets in Bosilegrad, Vranje, Tsaribrod, Kyustendil, and Sofia at the forum. Dimitar Tsanev, the Consul General of Bulgaria in Nis, is also expected to attend.

Ivan Nikolov, chair of CIC Bosilegrad, said that the idea for the project originated due to multiple anti-Bulgarian public displays and statements in regional and national media, including those by senior government officials.

"In recent years, numerous historical myths and fake news have circulated through television, print media, news websites, and social networks, spreading fear, hatred, and distrust among the Bulgarian minority in Serbia. This is why we have decided to address these issues with fellow journalists at the upcoming seminar," Nikolov said.

The event is part of a project with the same name, funded by Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Programme for Support of Bulgarian Communities, Organizations and Initiatives of Bulgarians Abroad in 2024.