Fighting Xenophobia and Hate Speech: Bilingualism Commission on the Offensive

Tackling xenophobia (the hatred of foreigners) and hate speech, two things which are detrimental to communual life and the state as a whole are being reviewed in Cameroon.

This is being done in the form of a national communication campaign organised by the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, NCPBM.

In order to ensure adequate measures are used to fight this cankerworm which is an enemy to national unity, the President of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, Peter Mafany Musonge organised a meeting with Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and Youth groups amongst others.

These stakeholders were brought together to give proposals to the Commission as they embark on this national campaign.

Opening the session, the President of the Commission explained that the New National Communication Campaign against Hate Speech and Xenophobia in Cameroon was launched on March 5, 2021.

The Commission already started raising public awareness on the ills of xenophobia and hate speech however, it feels that the effort is insufficient.

It is in this regard that Peter Mafany Musonge decided to bring together these stakeholders whom he says have profound knowledge of grassroot realities and use the social media which is the greatest tool through which xenophobia and hate speech are propagated.

The NCPBM Boss called on the stakeholders to form a coalition with his Commission and fight these social ills.

He emphasised that if each of those present reached out to just one person propagating hate speech or xenophobia, it will have a powerful effect in tackling the problem.

Stakeholders Laud NCPBM’s Initiative and Present Proposals

“It is a laudable initiative because hate speech poses a great danger for the cohesion of a democratic society, the protection of human rights and the rule of law. Increasingly, we have seen in Cameroon how hate speech online quickly translates to violence offline. It is indeed a stitch in time,” explains the CEO of Sisterspeak, Comfort Musa, one of the participants.

Her proposal to the Commission is that the campaign should be inclusive so as to involve minority groups like women, persons with disabilities and indigenous populations.

She also insisted on the need for creative approaches to tackle the problem.

Comfort Musa emphasised that the media is a strong actor and stakeholder so they should be engaged in this campaign.

“Mediamen should also be mindful of their reporting so as not to propagate or transmit hate,” she adds.

“It was about time. Our country’s recent past is overtaken by hate speech; a threat to living-together. The NCPBM is doing broadbased consultations on how to fight the ill and looking at possible cooperation and we are ready to work with the Commission. We (CAMASEJ) think that journalists are key in this fight. Journalists need to know what constitutes hate speech. Once aware, journalists can expunge hate speech from their stories. It will also help journalists to call out perpetrators of hate speech (our watchdog role). We are ready to partner with the NCPBM for a training of journalists on hate speech,” indicates Jude Viban, President of the Cameroon Association of English-speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ.

The stakeholders doffed their hats to the Commission for bringing together all groups of people for this discussion especially the youth who are usually victims or vectors of hate and those with the power to defy hate especially online.

Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi

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