Fight against hate speech and disinformation: crucial training for Congolese journalists
In a tense political context marked by the presidential elections, the city of Lubumbashi, located in the Haut-Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is hosting a training workshop on the fight against hate speech. Organized by UNESCO in collaboration with UN-Women and UNDP, this event aims to raise awareness among journalists, political actors and civil society on the dangers of hate speech and disinformation, and to strengthen regulatory and self-regulation in the media.
According to Joseph Potopoto, an expert at UNESCO, the Congolese political landscape presents factors that potentially trigger violence during electoral periods. Among these, the rise of hate speech and disinformation in the media. Hate speech is defined as speech emanating from a major political actor, intended to incite tribal, political or other hatred against their opponents, with the aim of discrediting them politically. These speeches can lead to acts of violence, such as calls to hunt down members of a specific tribe or political class.
The workshop organized in Lubumbashi therefore aims to strengthen existing regulation and self-regulation mechanisms, as well as to develop a multi-stakeholder approach to monitoring hate speech and disinformation. At the end of this training, an early warning system will be put in place to detect hate speech and disinformation.
This training workshop is of capital importance in an electoral context where manipulation of information and political tensions are commonplace. Journalists play a crucial role in combating disinformation and the spread of hate speech. By being trained in techniques for detecting and preventing these phenomena, they will be able to help preserve the integrity of the information disseminated and promote healthy and constructive political debate.
The fight against hate speech and disinformation is a global issue, and it is essential to increase efforts to tackle it. By training information professionals and strengthening regulatory mechanisms, we can hope to create a more responsible media environment and contribute to the construction of a society based on respect, tolerance and balanced information..
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