"EDMAAJ-1" Project was the first phase of the initiative titled “Promoting Participation, Citizenship, and the Inclusion of Women and Youth in Public and Civic Life,” which focused on combating hate speech and bullying in Palestinian society. The project aimed to raise awareness about the causes, forms, and harms of this phenomenon, and to explore ways to mitigate its negative impact on the community. Special emphasis was placed on highlighting the specific challenges faced by women as a result of hate speech and bullying, and on promoting protection mechanisms to safeguard them from such practices.

The project targeted over 140 direct beneficiaries and 85,000 indirect beneficiaries, who participated in a series of impactful activities over the course of a year, including:

1) Implementation of an intensive training program for university students from various northern West Bank governorates studying journalism, media, and public relations. The training aimed to introduce them to the concepts of responsible citizenship and social inclusion, methods of managing advocacy and lobbying campaigns, as well as the reality and definitions of hate speech. It also focused on understanding the main features, forms, and harms of hate speech, and strategies to combat, counter, and reduce its impact using both traditional media tools and modern digital platforms.

2) Designing and implementing community-based initiatives and activities in collaboration with several youth organizations, focusing on ways to combat and reject hate speech in society. These included artistic expressions, volunteer activities, and guidance programs for mothers—particularly mothers of children with disabilities—on how to address and deal with hate speech within their communities.

3) Preparing and publishing a fact sheet (in Arabic) on the reality of hate speech and bullying against women in Palestinian society.

4) Conducting brainstorming sessions with professionals in psychological and social counseling within NGOs and schools to explore the concepts and practices of hate speech and social bullying, as well as the existing policies and procedures for addressing and managing these issues. These sessions served as a foundation for developing a Code of Conduct and a fact sheet on the phenomenon from their perspectives and work environments.

5) Developing and publishing a fact sheet (in Arabic) on the policies and procedures followed by specialists and counselors in addressing hate speech and social bullying, as well as the extent to which these measures are implemented and adhered to.

6) Developing a Code of Conduct (in Arabic) specifically for professionals working in social and psychological counseling, to guide their response to hate speech and social bullying, particularly within the school environment.

7) Designing and implementing impactful awareness and advocacy campaigns to combat hate speech, which included the production and broadcast of eight televised radio episodes led by members of the “Inclusion Youth Team.” These episodes addressed various forms of hate speech and bullying in society, along with strategies for combating and avoiding them. In addition, graphic posts were shared across social media platforms, highlighting manifestations of hate speech against women and encouraging its rejection and elimination.

“EDMAAJ 1 ” Funded by USAID