Special support for R&D projects "COVID-19 impact on hate crimes and violence

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) opens on January 25 the applications for special support to R&D projects on the Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hate crimes, violence and hate speech, with the aim of funding initiatives that enable the production and dissemination of knowledge and research-action regarding hate crimes, as well as violence and hate speech following the pandemic. Applications may be submitted until February 15, 2021.

This special support granted by FCT has the coordination of the Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality, and the support of the High Commission for Migrations, IP (ACM) and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG). It is launched at a time when several European and international organizations are recommending the strengthening of comprehensive knowledge of hate crimes and racist, xenophobic, gender and homophobic violence, also warning about the low rates of reporting and participation.

The United Nations (UN) recommends that COVID-19-related hate speech be recognized, tracked, collected information and analyzed at the national and global levels to support effective responses, and that relevant actors-states, media, digital platforms and civil society organizations-develop strategies to identify, analyze and counter hate speech. Responding to these recommendations and concerns is the central objective of this special support.

This support has a budget allocation of 200 thousand Euros and the selected projects will be funded with a maximum limit of 40 thousand Euros per project, for a maximum duration of 10 months. The approved projects will be financed by national funds through the FCT budget.