NHRC, CSO’s partner on fake, hate speech

 

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) have signed an alliance against fake, hate and dangerous speeches in an effort to have peaceful and credible elections in February.

The Executive Secretary NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, during the signing said hate speech and fake news has cause a lot of damages globally and has disrupts  peace and security of  nation.

“The global menace of hate speech and fake news constitutes a clear and present danger to human rights, sustainable development, peace and security and has become a potent tool in the hands of individuals and groups that wish to truncate our democratic governance. The perpetrators rely on the susceptibility of their recipients who, unfortunately, exaggerate these dangerous messages,” he stated.

The Executive Secretary disclosed this at an interface with key regulators and stakeholders on hate speeches, fake news and electoral violence in conjunction with MacArthur Foundation yesterday in Abuja.

Ojukwu said there is urgent need to address the effect of hate speeches, fake news and election violence as it could affects the upcoming elections and fundamental human right.           

While presenting his paper on “legal and policy frameworks for hate speech, fake news and election violence”, human right activist Femi Falana SAN, highlighted the legal provisions to deal with them as such instance was an offence and a punishable one.

Earlier, the Director-General National Broadcasting Commission,  Is’haq Moddibo Kawu urged newsmen to adhere to high professional and ethical standards in carrying out their duty, adding that media regulatory agencies should ensure that those found spreading hate and dangerous speech are appropriately sanctioned.

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