“No matter how worrying the current public discourse may seem—full of hate speech, insults, and degrading expressions—we must be aware that it can still get worse,” said Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, at the joint event organized by the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the United Nations in Serbia titled “Words that Build a More Tolerant Society.” Marking the International Day Against Hate Speech, this event featured the ceremonial unveiling of a mural at the Silosi, officially launching the six-month campaign “Tolerance.”

Janković spoke on the interactive panel “Dialogue with Youth,” emphasizing that the involvement of young people in decision-making processes and in shaping the public narrative is crucial for building a more tolerant society.

“No matter how worrying the current public discourse may seem—full of hate speech, insults, and degrading expressions—we must be aware that it can still get worse. That is why it is our collective responsibility to change this linguistic pattern as soon as possible, because it does not advance society but rather deepens existing problems. In this process, young people play a key role—their perspective, energy, and voice are essential for shaping a more tolerant and inclusive society,” the Commissioner stressed.

Following the panel, a mural against hate speech was ceremonially unveiled. The mural, painted by artists Luka Prstojević and Kruna Jevtić, was supported by Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia, and Anja Ćetković from the Gaia Movement. The mural featured the words: virtue, truth, justice, joy, attention, and smile.

The mural painting and the conference organization were supported through the project “Fight Against Discrimination and Promotion of Diversity in Serbia,” which is part of the joint program of the European Union and the Council of Europe, “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey,” in cooperation with the United Nations in Serbia.