Cairo: Twenty-five non-governmental organisations, led by the Kuwait Society for Human Rights, have launched a declaration against hate speech in the time of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The groups have described safeguarding human rights during the COVID-19 crisis a “challenge” to every country, citing incitement to hatred on social media.
“Everyone have the right to enjoy basic liberties, including freedom of expression in a way that efforts, made to address hate speech, will not undermine it,” the signatories said in their declaration.
“Freedom of expression should not be used in any form to incite against others, belittle them or undermine their dignity.”
The 25 NGOs also expressed repudiation of community divisions and all forms of engagement in incitement to discrimination, violence or spread of hate.
“These speeches should be regarded as being geared towards directing individuals to open confrontations against others to trigger this division.”
The signatories also called for resorting to official channels to express objections to “messages of violence, hate and incitement”. Competent agencies, they said, should be notified of incitement to violence and hate.
“The state has to provide protection against hate speech that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Civil officials, religious and community leaders, members of the judiciary and media organisations should play an important role in enhancing culture of peace, tolerance, mutual respect and open expression of rejecting hate speech,"they added, admonishing against “legitimising” hate speech.
