Hate Speech : Stakeholders Rally Forces To Checkmate Growing Trend

 
A multicultural and multilingual country with over 250 ethnic groups with English and French as official languages, Cameroon’s rich historical, linguistic and socio-cultural heritage - which over the years served as the bedrock of its development - stands threatened today. By conflict and divisive rhetoric, fuelled by political/tribal undertones. These emerging challenges to social cohesion, national unity and sustainable development require prompt action to address their root causes. In order to pave way for lasting peace.

Multi-stakeholder Observatory 
It was for this reason that a one-day workshop on Setting up a Multi-stakeholder Observatory on Countering Hate Speech in the Media and Social Media in Cameroon was organised by Defyhatenow Cameroon and Civic Watch Cameroon in Yaounde on Thursday, February 15, 2024. In association with the Ministry of Communication, civil society organisations, the media, the academia and other stakeholders.

Barrister Akere Muna’s Personal Experiences 
In an inaugural lecture on combating hate speech in the digital era, Barrister Akere Muna said social media has reduced every discourse in Cameroon today to insults. “This is great work for all of us. Everyone must be involved in the fight against hate speech,” Barrister Muna said. He went on to recount his personal experiences with hate speech in Cameroon, saying Cameroonians listen to hate speech and think it is funny. 

It Poison Minds, Hearts 
“But hate speech has no place in our society… It poisons minds and hearts, leaving a trail of destruction on its way… Cameroon has a good legal framework to fight hate speech. Hate speech is also about name-calling, even the use of pictures and symbols… Hate speech makes it hard for marginalised groups to be treated fairly in society… Fighting hate speech is difficult in the digital age, but any effort shows that hate speech is wrong,” Barrister Akere underscored. 

Politics, Driver Of Hate Speech 
According to him, politics is a major driver of hate speech during electioneering campaigns. “Two key words come to mind in our political context – “transition” and “change of power” - which often carry much hate,” Barrister Muna pointed out. Warning that the language we use can start a fire that we won’t be able to quench. “Instead of responding to hate speech with hate, let’s use compassion,” he counselled. “Education is important in combating hate speech because people learn to hate, but they can be taught to love,” Barrister Akere said, citing Nelson Mandela.

Need For Restraint, Moderation 
The Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, felicitated organisers of the workshop for the initiative. He cited a May 17, 2023, press statement he issued to draw attention to the rise in hate speech in the media and social media in Cameroon. “Unfortunately, the situation has not reduced… Because of the gravity of hate speech, government has continued to call for restraint and moderation in the manner in which people express themselves,” the Minister noted. 

Government’s Anti-Hate Speech Efforts 
“Government is tackling hate speech by mobilising the media, young people, through citizenship education and by taking legal action against culprits. The creation of a multi-stakeholder observatory to counter hate speech is supported by government,” he said. Responding to Barrister Akere Muna’s personal experiences with hate speech, the Minister said verbal violence has unfortunately been on the increase in Cameroon. “This is intolerable. This is a problem of education (the non-respect for others). Yet, our traditions preach respect for adults. Stop insulting each other on social media!” the Minister urged. 

We Are Indeed Concerned By The Trend 
“We are all concerned by the trend of hate speech in Cameroon. Social media has created space for people across the world to exchange and create relationships. Unfortunately, social media has also become a space our people believe they can say anything – insult, misinform… It is time to stop the trend. Government is so concerned about the situation. The workshop afforded us the opportunity to again talk about it. I encourage the initiative,” Minister Sadi said. 

It’s Not About Stifling Free Speech 
“We must continue to draw the attention of the public to the risks of hate speech to our communities, country and the world at large. I hope the workshop will produce pertinent ideas on how to counter hate speech. My presence at the workshop showed that we are all concerned about the level of hate speech in Cameroon. I was happy to meet Barrister Akere Muna who came for the same cause. Our task is to sensitise people. The objective is not to stop people from expressing their views, but to stop hate speech. Government cannot watch the situation without doing anything,” Rene Emmanuel Sadi assured. 

It Threatens Democracy                     
According to the representative of the European Union Delegation to Cameroon, Philippe Lafosse, hate speech defames, kills and is transmitted through social media, the Internet by relaying conspiracy theories. “All of us are victims of hate speech – even children…. Violent speech threatens democracy… The European Union has been supporting the Cameroon government and civil society in the fight against hate speech since three years,” Lafosse recalled. “There is need to coordinate efforts…Hate speech can be countered everyday by everyone of us,” Philippe Lafosse reiterated. 

Everyone On Board
“We just launched a multi-stakeholder observatory to collect, analyse and flag questions of hate speech in Cameroon. It is a multi-stakeholder platform because it brings together members of the civil society, the media, government ….. This is why the opening of the workshop was chaired by the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman, Rene Emmanuel Sadi,” explained Ngala Desmond Ngala, Defyhatenow Country Project Manager for West and Central Africa. 

Hate Speech Has Become Fashionable! 
“Hate speech has become mode for many people in Cameroon. Efforts have been made to counter it, but we think it is time to bring everyone on board in a holistic and collective approach to reduce, and why not stamp out hate speech? Especially in a year that precedes crucial presidential elections in Cameroon,” Desmond Ngala suggested.

Keeping Their Strategy To Their Chest
“Because of the entrepreneurs of hate speech, we will not publicly disclose our strategy. But we believe the strategy will work because partners from all over Cameroon are involved and are committed to the initiative. Also, governme...