As a part of the final activity, Mr. Pasteur Kossa, participated in the Forum on Minority Issue in the United Nations in Geneva, to represent Peace and Freedom Org. in this international event on November 19, 2020. This year this event has been implemented virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the session addresses is Hate Speech in Social Media and Minorities.

Peace and Freedom Org. participated in the International legal and institutional framework - 13th Session of the Forum on Minority Issues19 Nov 2020 - Item 3: International legal and institutional framework.

Although there is no international legal definition of hate speech, international law prohibits advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence. In the absence of such a definition, the term “hate speech” may risk being abused to impose uniformity of views, curtailing dissent and shrinking civic space. It is thus essential to also ensure the protection of the right to freedom of expression when addressing hate speech. Freedom of expression is only subject to a very small number of strict permissible restrictions under international law.

Participants discussed the relevant international human rights obligations, in particular the importance of ensuring the complementarity between articles 19 (freedom of expression) and 20 (prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and articles 4 (prohibition of incitement to racial discrimination and hatred) and 5 (the right of everyone to enjoy, inter alia, the freedom of opinion and expression) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

They discussed how legislative, human rights, and institutional frameworks can address impunity and ensure accountability for hate crimes against minorities that are triggered by online hate speech.

Participants offered possible effective solutions, inter alia, within the context of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16, which is aimed at promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; providing access to justice for all; and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.