Expectations From Other Actors

Combating hate speech is not the sole responsibility of the State. Other actors of the society and social strata need to join in the awareness raising campaign to eradicate the ill which has devastating consequences on national unity and progress. By other actors, we are referring to amongst others, civil society organisations, political parties, opinion leaders (religious and traditional authorities), peer educators and community leaders. By virtue of their positions and closeness to the population, they have a large following and can easily influence public opinion in the right direction. They collaborate with the government in the attainment of certain objectives that puts the country on the path of growth. They are already doing a lot in the fight against hate speech as expected of them though efforts need to be redoubled with the upraised nature of the scourge. 
Civil Society Organisations 
Commonly referred to as “the third” sector, they play a crucial role in the development of a country. They are apolitical and can therefore meet every person in the society irrespective of their political, religious or cultural believes to talk tolerance and social cohesion. It is on this ground that the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism has decided to partner with civil society organisations in the fight against hate speech and xenophobia. They have an impressive regional representation and should every civil society organisation embark on sensitisation against hate language on a regular basis, then more love and understanding in the society is guaranteed. Through their awareness campaigns, they easily get to the masses. It is on this note that women associations, traditional rulers and youths, meeting recently in Yaounde at the initiative of the National Coordinator of More Women in Politics, decided to engage 30 civil society organisations that will across the ten regions of the country spread the message of love as they denounce hate speech, xenophobia and tribalism. 
Political Parties
Besides participating in elections, they hold certain opinions, promote specific ideologies and policy goals. Every political party has followers and these followers in return have friends and belong to other social groupings. Politicians are public figures whose words on social media and debate programmes have an impact on the audience either rightly or wrongly. If your words are not peaceful enough, they can tension and divide. That is why the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement ((CPDM) on June 5, 2023 strongly condemns the vice, calling on all Came...