How Can We Confront Hatred?
"Hate speech" is harmful and incorrect, so we must confront it with more positive discourse.
The root cause of hatred is often ignorance and lack of understanding. Therefore, we need multiple measures such as better education, open and robust spaces for discussion, and diverse, pluralistic media that provides better representation for all segments of society, especially those usually marginalized. We need to educate people to make them realize how politicians can use hatred to divide society. It is crucial to enhance tolerance and opposition to such methods.
Censorship alone, in imposing control over "hate speech," does not address the underlying causes of hatred and discrimination. Changing the feelings and opinions of those susceptible to hate messages is challenging, and protecting the targeted individuals is equally difficult.
While limiting the most dangerous forms of hate speech is possible, it is not sufficient. Governments need to provide more comprehensive and innovative responses to ensure that we can all live together, embracing diversity and differences. We require transparent governments accountable to the people, as well as independent and free media to effectively confront attempts to turn marginalized groups into scapegoats through the dissemination of misleading information.
What Can We Do?
As individuals or groups, we can do a lot to confront hatred and build a better society. By acquiring knowledge in this field and organizing our actions, we can use our right to freedom of expression to promote equality, combat hatred, and discrimination.
Building counter-narratives against hate speech involves freedom of expression to build knowledge through the exchange of ideas and opinions. Creating space for open discussion and dialogue allows us to understand each other, recognize common values, and appreciate the differences that make us unique.
However, some misuse their right to freedom of expression to spread false information about a group, fostering distrust and misunderstanding, leading to discrimination and violence. Such speech tends to gain popularity, offering simple explanations and solutions to complex problems, blaming an easily targeted entity and generating fear. It can also create a sense of security and solidarity within a dominant group, where feelings of hatred and entitlement are reinforced.
Relying solely on criminal law and punishment as a response to hate speech is unlikely to effectively confront the underlying causes of this speech. There is no evidence that imprisonment or fines can change peoples minds and may even have opposite results. On the other hand, initiatives to establish communication between different groups, exchanging experiences over a more extended period, require more significant investment but can replace suspicion with understanding and trust.
Inclusive societies that welcome discussions likely have a greater ability to resist hate speech compared to societies with high government control over public discourse.
Raise Your Voice Against Hate
Speak out against "hate speech" whenever you encounter it and encourage others to do the same. Pressure prominent politicians and public figures to stand against hatred, and those who hesitate should face criticism.
Hatred spreads more easily where it goes unopposed. Raising your voice against it is an important way to demonstrate your rejection of hatred and discrimination, showing solidarity with those targeted by hate. It allows them, in situations where they may not have the opportunity to speak out, to express their voices. Confronting hatred positively may open the space for victims of discrimination to articulate and express their opinions.
Listen, Understand, and Engage Constructively
Telling those engaged in hate speech that they are wrong or ignorant may trigger defensive reactions, providing no opportunity for changing peoples opinions. It may even lead individuals to cling more to their beliefs and increase their determination to promote hatred.
Avoiding offense when confronting hate is strategic. Consider asking questions that address the reasons behind an individuals adoption of certain opinions. Determine if it is possible to challenge their preconceived judgments and stereotypical thinking through dialogue and exposure to new ideas and information. This experience can be frustrating and exhausting, requiring patience and perseverance, but it can offer an alternative to causing more harm.
Critically Engage with Information
Critically engage with information; understand how "hate speech" works, who engages in it, and what its purpose is. Where do these individuals get their information, and is it reliable?
Engaging with information critically is a fundamental skill to confront hate speech. The more you can research, question the source of presented information, assess the accuracy of statements, and identify potential biases, the more effectively you can understand and shed light on discriminatory discourse.
It is also essential to obtain information from diverse sources, ensuring that you are well-informed for any discussions. Additionally, understanding how others in society receive information can explain their preconceptions and biases. Are they aware that the only media they listen to is government-owned, and that critical journalists have been dismissed? Do they know that one of their commentators is linked to extreme right-wing groups?
Be a Human Rights Advocate
Urge your government to enact better laws and policies to confront hatred, ensuring full protection of human rights in equality and freedom of expression.
Establish or support civil society groups, particularly at the local level, to bridge gaps between local communities, promote equality, and confront discrimination.
Engage with people online through social media and participate in demonstrations advocating for equality.
Encourage religious, political, and local leaders to take a stand against hatred, criticize it wherever it arises, and participate in activities addressing intolerance and promoting mutual understanding.
Advocate for an independent media sector characterized by diversity in perspectives and individuals given a platform for expression. Skepticism about the absence of minority voices and critics on media platforms should prompt consideration of addressing this issue.
This contributes to confronting the roots of hatred and building a foundation for a strong society that values diversity and differences.
Exercise Caution and Maintain Hope
In some countries, the space available for civil society is severely limited, and expression is closely monitored to the extent that openly defending human rights may pose risks. Groups opposing equality and human rights can be violent and intimidating, and advocating for social justice can be a challenging task without immediate results. Therefore, exercising caution is crucial for sustainability.
Safety must be prioritized. Balancing the impact of your actions, such as participating in a demonstration, with your personal safety and that of others around you is essential. Having a support network to turn to in times of difficulty is crucial. If involved in organizational work, plans to protect digital and physical security, including alerting others if things go wrong, are necessary for safely continuing your work.
What Should Our Governments Do?
Governments are responsible for creating conducive environments where everyone can thrive, and our rights are protected.
There are numerous positive measures that governments can or should take to promote equality, non-discrimination, and protect freedom of expression. Understanding these measures is crucial for urging our governments to implement them.
1. Build a Supportive Environment for Freedom of Expression:
Repeal or reform laws.
Hold attackers of critical and independent voices accountable.
Ensure transparency and the right to access information.
Protect the right to freedom of expression online.
2.Ensure Absolute Protection of the Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination:
Repeal all discriminatory laws and policies.
Enact legislation to combat or promote discrimination.
Recognize legal frameworks for bias-motivated crimes and punish them accordingly.
Establish independent institutions focused on equality.
3. Positive Measures in Public Policy:
To confront hatred, countries should take a series of positive and non-coercive measures related to public policy, including all aspects of public life, to address prejudice and discrimination and respond to hate speech. These measures do not necessarily involve legislation.
These measures should be based on non-discrimination, in line with a robust commitment from government officials to respect human rights and promote dialogue, supporting the participation of all sectors of society.
Recognition of non-acceptance of the other and confronting it.
Equality training.
Public policy for diversity and equality in the media.
Awareness campaigns and public education.
4. What Can Other Stakeholders Do?
Civil society initiatives.
Mobilization of influential actors and alliance-building between institutions.
The role of independent and pluralistic media.
The role of meaningful dialogue between groups.
Source: challengehate.com
#Challenge_Hate is Article 19s campaign as part of the media dialogue project in Kyrgyzstan to raise awareness of relevant international standards on "hate speech" and how they can be used to identify and challenge "hate speech" through positive measures.
