Middle East Council of Churches and Partners to convene regional conference on countering hate speech in Cairo
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), and with the participation and support of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PC(USA)), and The United Church of Canada, and the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), will convene a regional conference in Cairo from 4 to 6 October 2026, under the theme: Countering Hate Speech: Promoting Human Dignity and Living Together.
The conference will bring together researchers, religious leaders, experts and specialists from various fields to discuss the causes, forms and implications of hate speech, and to explore practical approaches and mechanisms that contribute to promoting human dignity, social cohesion and living together.
The programme will open on Sunday, 4 October, with a reception and networking gathering, including an official opening, a welcome to participants and an introduction to the conference. The programme will feature Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt (PCE) and Head of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), and Dr. Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches. Dr. Laure Abi Khalil will present the general framework of the conference, its objectives, methodology and expected outcomes. The programme will also include a group photograph and media statements by participants.
Over the course of three days, speakers and researchers will address the phenomenon of hate speech from religious, social, legal, educational and media perspectives, alongside dedicated sessions examining the role of digital platforms and artificial intelligence in confronting and reducing hate speech.
The conference will also address public policies and regional initiatives, through a series of contributions focusing on social cohesion. The conference will conclude on Tuesday, 6 October, with a presentation of the consolidated outcomes of the three thematic areas, followed by a closed working session to review the Regional Declaration and recommendations, before the official closing session, which will include the adoption of the Regional Declaration and the launch of the campaign and hashtag associated with the initiative.
The MECC Media Department will provide comprehensive media coverage of the conference through its media and digital platforms, in cooperation and coordination with its media partners, documenting the various sessions and discussions, as well as the key contributions and outcomes of the conference.
