Special support for R&D projects “Impact of COVID-19 on hate crimes and violence”

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

This special support granted by FCT is coordinated by the Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality, with the support of the High Commission for Migration, IP (ACM) and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG). It is being launched at a time when several European and international bodies are recommending a better understanding of crimes of incitement to hatred and violence of a racist, xenophobic, gender-based, and homophobic nature, while also drawing attention to the low rates of reporting and participation.

The United Nations (UN) recommends recognizing, monitoring, collecting information, and analyzing trends in hate speech related to COVID-19, both nationally and globally, in order 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 €200,000, and the selected projects will be funded up to a maximum of €40,000 per project, for a maximum duration of 10 months. Approved projects will be funded by national funds through the FCT budget.