Add the Gazzetta del Sud as a source
The path of the European project MYTHiC – Mobilize Youth Tackling Hate in Calabria continues, committed to building a regional network to combat online hate phenomena and to promote an inclusive and participatory digital culture.
In recent days, the Municipality of Cosenza hosted a meeting of the territorial multi-actor group dedicated to the advancement of project activities and the definition of the future mechanism for reporting and taking charge of victims of online hate speech.
The institutions and territorial realities present
The participants were welcomed by Dr. Antonietta Cozza, delegate for Culture of the Municipality of Cosenza, who underlined the importance of creating stable territorial synergies between institutions, schools and the third sector on the themes of inclusion, participation and the fight against discrimination.
Dr. Antonella Iannoccaro, municipal councilor responsible for Equal Opportunities and the Rights of Children and Adolescents of the Municipality of San Marco Argentano, also took part in the meeting, accompanied by a social worker from the institution. The Municipality of San Marco Argentano has formally joined the MYTHiC project, contributing to the strengthening of the regional territorial network involved in prevention and awareness activities.
Also present were the Intercultural Council of the Municipality of Cosenza, represented by Ibrahima Diop, together with the associations Arci Cosenza APS, RI-FORMAP and the Italian Association of Down syndrome people – Cosenza section. Four teachers involved in the MYTHiC project from the “GB Scorza” Scientific High School and the “Monaco” ITI also participated.
Guidelines and the fight against online hatred
During the meeting, updates were shared on the activities already carried out by the project at regional level and the draft guidelines dedicated to the mechanism for reporting cases of online hate were presented, which will constitute one of the central tools of the pilot phase expected in the coming months.
The discussion focused in particular on the construction of an integrated territorial system of referral and taking charge of victims, progressively involving institutions, social services, schools, associations and local authorities.
Among the themes that emerged, particular attention was paid to the future involvement of the Welfare department of the Municipality of Cosenza, with the aim of further strengthening networking and consolidating a shared approach to the issues of online hate prevention.
Good practices and expansion of the network
The experience of the educational community of San Marco Argentano was also valorised as an example of a multi-actor territorial network capable of promoting awareness, participation and youth protagonism through paths built together with young people and not imposed from above.
During the meeting, the desire to further expand the territorial network through the involvement of new third sector entities and to continue the discussion on the structuring of the referral system in the next operational appointments also emerged.
The numbers of the project and the next steps
The MYTHiC project, already active throughout Calabria, has so far involved over 800 students and dozens of teachers through meetings in schools, training activities and awareness-raising courses, as well as the selection of 80 young “Equity Defenders” committed to promoting an inclusive digital culture.
In the first months, MYTHiC, in which the Tree of Life Foundation, Dataninja and the Calabrian Solidarity Center collaborate, and is financed by the European Union, will continue to develop territorial activities, training courses and operational tools aimed at preventing and combating online hate phenomena, progressively strengthening the regional network of support and protection of victims.