The recent crises in central Africa have highlighted the regular propagation of rumours, as well as the dissemination – mainly by the media – of hateful messages. Often, these messages are conducive to violence and strain already fragile communitarian relations.

To fight this dynamic, the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) will support a training by the Network of NGOs promoting and defending human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR). On 19 January 2023, around 30 attendees will be sensitized to hate speech and incitement to violence.  Their backgrounds will vary from civil society to media and the politic sphere.

Addressing root causes

The workshop will present strategies to counter hate speech and incitement to violence, with an emphasis on their root causes, accelerating mechanisms and impact.

Ultimately, the goal of the workshop is to increase the capacity to prevent atrocity crimes and to avoid new episodes of violence in CAR. Both hate speech and incitement to violence are known warning signs that, if not curbed, may lead to grave violence.

This workshop is part of a series of activities by GAAMAC’s Africa Working Group in central Africa. The opening session will be presided by the Working Group’s regional Focal Point, Mr Bruno Hyacinthe Gbiegba. State representatives will also be present.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Bruno Hyacinthe Gbiegba, Focal Point for central Africa at GAAMAC and Deputy Coordinator, Interim Coordinator of the Network of NGOs promoting and defending human rights in CAR
gbiegbabruno@yahoo.fr, (+236) 75 50 72 27

Noemi Manco, Communications Manager at the GAAMAC Support Office
noemi.manco@gaamac.org