The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), in co-organization with the Promo-LEX Association, is pleased to invite you to the fourth webinar of a series ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections in Moldova. 

With Moldova’s election just a month away, hate speech in campaign rhetoric remains a challenge for election managers, media regulators, and observers. Monitoring during the 2024 election cycle revealed ongoing use of hate speech and incitement to discrimination, including by politicians and across social media, despite a legal framework that outlaws such behavior.

Meanwhile, the Council of Europe and national partners have developed practical tools, including a dedicated guide for assessing and processing hate speech cases, designed for the Audiovisual Council and other authorities, to standardize detection, case handling, and sanctioning in audiovisual media. These efforts have been complemented by joint CoE–CEC–UN Women anti-discrimination roundtables before the 2024 and 2025 election cycles to coordinate responses with parties, media, and institutions.

Both domestic and international observers, particularly from Promo-LEX, have highlighted an environment affected by disinformation, urging stronger, independent media oversight as part of broader electoral integrity safeguards. ECRI’s latest country report further recommends public awareness, training, and effective enforcement against hate speech, emphasizing the need for operational capacity, not just norms.

This fourth webinar in EPDE’s Moldova series focuses on methods for monitoring and classifying hate speech during campaigns, routing cases between observer groups, the CEC, and the Audiovisual Council, and designing rapid-response and remedial messaging that protects rights while preserving open debate. Panelists will compare 2024 lessons with the new tools in place and identify priority last-minute fixes before the September 28 election.

Details:

• Webinar: Hate Speech During Electoral Campaigns: Monitoring and Response Tools
• Date: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
• Time: 14:30 CET / 15:30 EEST
• Language: English, Romanian interpretation available

Speakers:

• Sergiu Martin, Head of Monitoring Department, Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova
• Mirela Chiriac, Project Officer, Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Council of Europe Chisinau
• Galina Pleșca, Deputy Head, International Relations and European Affairs Directorate, General Police Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova, Chief of the International Relations and Treaty Unit
• Angelica Frolov, Administrator Genderdoc-M, LGBT Rights Lobby and Advocacy Program Coordinator
• Irina Corobcenco, Hate Speech Analyst, Promo-LEX Association

Moderated by Ilina Mangova, former Gender and Inclusion Long-Term Analyst for the 2024 Moldova Elections Observation Mission of the International Republican Institute.