Media leaders in Cameroon drawn from different professional structures have declared their commitment to uphold free speech against hate speech in the practice of Journalism. The declaration to uphold free speech and counter hate speech in the media was made during a forum jointly organised by the Rainforest Center for Quality Research in partnership with Civic Watch. This was on April 28, 2023 which brought together over sixty media leaders including stakeholders of the profession.
The declaration was taken by station managers, newspaper publishers, editors in chief and other actors in the journalism profession who who pledged to uphold principles that favour hate free language in the daily execution of their profession.
The declaration state’s the commitment to uphold the principles of democracy, human rights and pluralism. The commitment to uphold freedom of expression and information. To prevent and combat hate speech. To condemn hate speech as a violation of human rights and a threat to social cohesion and peace
To respect media ethics and refrain from spreading misinformation which in turn prevents hate speech. Also in the declaration, the media leaders are
calling on government, private institutions, civil society organisations and media professional organisation to join in the fight against hate speech.
The declaration is largely based on the role of the media in informing, educating and empowering the public as well as promoting dialogue, tolerance and mutual understanding.
Before making the declaration, the media leaders had an interactive session where they discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the media in Cameroon especially in the context of ongoing political, cultural and social crisis and tensions. Media leaders during interactions looked at conceptual, legal and ethical foundations of hate speech and free speech, and on the other hand, challenges and best practices for media, civil society and policy makers
They identified the existence of numerous media associations and unions in the country as a factor that can boost the fight against hate speech but which at present has done little or nothing.
Various actors voiced their thoughts on the subject
“We need to operate from a united front,” Jude Viban, National President of the Cameroon association of english speaking journalists CAMASEJ said.
“hate in the internet or press cannot only destroy people or groups but it can split a society by extremism or ideology. Our resistance to hate speech is essential if we are to protect our free speech” H. E. Corinna FRICKE, German Ambassador to Cameroon said.
“when different media leaders come together with partners and the government, the message will definitely go across” the hate speech focal point at the ministry of communication in Cameroon, Mr Ayina Nyassa Ghislain said.
Talking about the forum on hate free speech, Eugene Nforgwa, Eugene Nforngwa, Executive Director of Rainforest Center for Policy Research said “We’ve seen in the last six to seven years, an increase in the use of hate speech and this has been driven by a number of factors, most of the factors are around the social crisis that the country is going through, the different conflicts we are experiencing, but also the lingering effects of the disputes of the last presidential elections and so we’ve not only seen a resurgence in the use of hate speech .We’ve also seen an introduction of new forms of hate speech and we are worried about the risk this posts to social cohesion, national unity, and the democratic causes. So we thought that it was useful to take the opportunity of the world press freedom day, not only to discuss about hate speech but to confront it with a free speech which is a fundamental right as well.
According to Ngala Desmond, the Country Director of Defyhatenow, the concerted action towards hate speech would yield fruits “We’re hoping that this synergy goes beyond just with media leaders, to actually supporting actions in all other domains or sections of camera”
The forum was aimed at upholding dialogue, collaboration and action among media leaders to promote free speech, counter hate speech and misinformation and contribute to peace building and development in Cameroon.
