UN
UNSAC: Cameroon encouraged to conduct the validation process of the draft Regional Strategy to address and counter hate speech
Experts from the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) completed their work on Thursday 18 May, in São Tomé. Their report will be examined during the ministerial session on 19 May. One of the report highlights is the mandate given to Cameroon to ensure follow-up of actions that will lead to the political endorsement of the draft sub-regional Strategy and action plan to address and counter hate speech in Central Africa that was adopted in June 2022, in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo). The Member States invited Cameroon to work in close collaboration with the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and UNOCA to ensure the validation of the Strategy by the Heads of State and Government of the sub-region, using existing mechanisms. This approach will provide ECCAS with a “community instrument to address and counter hate speech in Central Africa.”
In this perspective, the Committee encouraged Cameroon to organize a forum on countering hate speech in Central Africa to raise awareness on this issue and prepare the steps leading to the final adoption of the regional Strategy and action plan to address and counter hate speech in Central Africa. Cameroon, which held this topic at the core of its mandate as President of the 53th Committee, reiterated its commitment to host the forum that will also prepare the Forum of Ministers of Communication and Information from Central African countries dedicated to this crucial issue. The Minister of Communication and Media of the Central African Republic had pleaded for such a meeting during the Bangui Forum. UNSAC Member States had welcomed this project during their 53rd meeting held in Yaoundé in May-June 2022.
The draft regional strategy and action plan to address and counter hate speech in Central Africa is the result of three forums organized by UNOCA, ECCAS and several other UN partners in Douala (26-29 October 2021), Bangui (26-29 April 2022) and Kinshasa (21-24 June 2022). It fulfills a request from UNSAC Member States that continue to express their deep concerns regarding the proliferation of hate speech in the media and other communication channels.
