A/HRC/28/64
Online, 2012-2014”, which aims to equip young people with competences to recognize and
act against hate speech, racism and discrimination in their online expression.
83.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, established in 2005, is a United
Nations entity tasked to assist in diminishing hostility and promoting harmony among
nations in order to prevent conflict and promote social cohesion. The Alliance has engaged
in media and information literacy initiatives to teach media consumers how to critically
interpret information received. Those initiatives include a media and information literacy
clearing house (milunesco.unaoc.org), the creation of a global network of universities, and
the coordination of workshops for educators and publications.
84.
In April 2014, Rwanda Media High Council, in partnership with the African Media
Initiative and the Ethical Journalism Network, launched the campaign “Turning the Page of
Hate Media in Africa”, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the genocide. The campaign
aims to promote ethical, tolerant and inclusive journalism, good media governance and
responsible communications through the open information landscape, and includes a
guideline document to test for hate speech in journalism practices.
B.
Establishment of specialized institutions
85.
Dedicated institutional attention to minority issues, including monitoring and
responding to hatred targeted against minorities, is essential to prevent atrocities and
reinforce unity and stability. This is even more important following violence or conflict, as
part of transitional justice and reconciliation processes.
86.
During the disputed presidential elections in Kenya in 2007, violence, triggered by
hate speech and incitement to hatred by political and religious leaders in the media, left
more than 1,000 people dead and half a million displaced. As a result, Kenya established
the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, tasked to promote ethnic harmony and
investigate complaints of ethnic or racial discrimination or any issue affecting ethnic and
racial relations. The Commission has been tackling hate speech through action, including
the development of guidelines for media outlets, training manuals for law enforcement
officers, workshops and conferences.
C.
Promotion of ethical standards, regulatory bodies and participation
of minorities in media outlets
87.
Media outlets can actively engage in fighting incitement to hatred and violence in
the media by adopting principles and guidelines of ethical and responsible journalism to
improve the quality of information and reporting to avoid bias, prejudice and manipulation,
as well as by promoting diversity among media workers and investing in adequate training
for media professionals.
88.
In April 2014, the International Federation of Journalists adopted the “Brussels
Declaration”33 to combat incitement to hate and violence through media. The Declaration
made recommendations to journalists and their unions aimed at upholding the principles
and ethics of responsible journalism, including denouncing incitement to hatred whenever
identified, ensuring knowledge of codes and guidelines by media workers, promoting
education and training of journalists as well as encouraging diversity in media outlets.
33
18
See www.ifj.org/nc/news-single-view/backpid/191/article/ifj-conference-agrees-declaration-to-standup-against-hate-speech/.