By: Nyima Sillah
Seventy-five Gambian journalists are targeted to be trained on hate speech by The Gambia Press Union through a funding from United Nations Office for West Africa.
The trainees will be drawn from the print, online, broadcast and community radios across the country, and the training aimed at equipping media practitioners with knowledge and skills on how to identify, address and monitor hate speech.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Emmanuel Joof, Chairperson National Human Right Commission said: “hate speech while objectionable may in some contexts be protected under the right of freedom of expression and opinion. In other contexts, accusations of hate speech can be used as an excuse to clamp down on civil society.”
According to him, tackling hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech, it means taking the right measures from the outset to root out its aims, purpose and drivers which often fuel violence and division.
“I hope this training for journalists will make them appreciate the issues surrounding speeches, statements, that can be generate intolerance hatred and violence, how to identify and monitor such statements and ways to mitigate and counter them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Seraphine Wakana, United Nations Resident Coordinator in The Gambia, also said: the Gambia through national and international human right law and principles is committed to ensuring the protecting of freedom of expression, equality and combatting discrimination.
She noted that the media has an important role to play in holding political leaders accountable for the commitment made against instigating hate speech and violence during election. Adding that, the United Nations system in the Gambia is committed to contributing towards the eradication of hate speech.
ECOWAS Ambassador, Vabah K Gayflor, added that: journalists can make or break a process also the electorates are family members. Adding that some of them have several visions but just taking little misinformation can destroy the future of this country.
“We want to encourage you to take advantage of the training and hope you will also sign an MOU so that journalists against hate speech could be something that could hold one accountable.”
