The incidence of hate speech in Moldova rose from approximately two cases a day in 2018 to almost twice more in 2019. Hate speech is mainly used by men, in about 88% of the cases, said Irina Korobchenko, educational programs manager at Promo-LEX Association that forms part of the Gender Equality Platform.

In a news conference at IPN, Irina Korobchenko said hate speech in 2018 was mainly based on sexual orientation and gender. Gender was the main criterion on which hate speech was based in 2019. This was followed by gender, political affiliation and sexual orientation. The LGBT community and the women were most affected by hate speech in 2018. In 2019, the rankings in descending order were as follows: the women, the politicians and the LGBT community.

Hate speech is primarily used in political and religious contexts. “There are sufficient examples when religious players used hate speech, principally against women, to promote the traditional family and the role of women in the traditional family and to also promote anti-abortion policies,” stated the educational programs manager of Promo-LEX Association.

She expressed her regret at the fact that the media also promotes hate speech. “The women are used and promoted mainly as a sexual object, including as part of election campaigns when hate speech within election debates is not penalized,” stated Irina Korobchenko.

In 2018, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance said the prejudice against the social groups, including women, perpetuates hate in the public sphere. The public authorities’ inaction, inefficient punishment mechanisms and imperfect legislation lead to the intensification of hate speech.

In this connection, Promo-LEX recommends adopting the law on the punishment of hat speech in the public sphere. The parties are recommended to identify internal solutions so as to work out codes of conduct or particular internal policies by which to ban or penalize this type of speech. The media outlets are advised to develop guidebooks for diminishing the phenomenon of hate speech intended for journalists or to introduce clauses concerning the use of such speech in their editorial policies.