IMADR | The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism

Hate speech against minorities in social media (HRC46, 2021, OS)

March 15, 2021

IMADR delivered the oral statement on “Hate speech against minorities in social media” at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council. Whole text can be read below or download here. 

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Oral Statement: 46th session of the Human Rights Council

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on minority issues

15 March 2021

Madam President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his presentation of the reports including the country visit report on Kyrgyzstan. As shown in the online regional forums in 2020, we welcome his continued active engagement with stakeholders, especially with minorities, despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this respect, we regret to learn that the annual forum in Geneva was not provided with a dedicated consultant to allow its smooth planning and operation.[1]

We agree with the Special Rapporteur that the representation of minorities in social media needs to be enhanced in order to effectively address hate speech issues.[2] While the regional forums provided them a rare opportunity to directly engage with social media platforms and share concerns, minorities around the world are too often excluded from the platforms’ decision-making processes for policies affecting them.

In this regard, we would like to ask the Special Rapporteur – How States should ensure that social media platforms consult with minorities in their efforts to tackle hate speech issues?

Lastly, we endorse the Special Rapporteur’s request to States, the UN and its entities to support the drafting of guidelines on combating hate speech against minorities in social media,[3] and we strongly encourage him to invite civil society, in particular minorities, and social media platforms in the preparation of guidelines.

Thank you.

[1] A/HRC/46/57, paragraph 18

[2] Ibid, paragraph 81

[3] Ibid, paragraph 91

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