Ramallah - 1/08/2018: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), represented by the Chairman of Board of Directors, Dr. Ghazi Hanania, and the Director General of the Center, Mr. Mousa Rimawi, signed on Tuesday a contract following the IPDC approval with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the attendance of Mrs. Hala Tannous, Executive Assistant and Communication and Information focal point, at the UNESCO Ramallah Office.
The contract aims to implement a project to combat hate speech in Palestine and to promote sensitive journalism which promotes cultural dialogue and dialogue amongst different affiliations. Additionally, it aims to raise awareness of Palestinian journalists and media practitioners and strengthen their capacity to combat hate speech.
The project includes various activities such as media campaigns through social media outlets, radio programmers, and the development of a guide/toolkit defining hate speech, taking into consideration, international standards and resolutions/ statements of UN, Special rapporteurs regarding hate speech and freedom of expression with a focus on the Palestinian context.
For more information about Countering Hate Speech you can read UNESCO’s Countering Hate Speech report (2015), available at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/publications-and-communication-materials/publications/full-list/countering-online-hate-speech/.
Dr. Hanania extended his gratitude and thanks the UNESCO for its support of such an important initiative and their ongoing support of MADA center to uphold and promote freedom of expression in Palestine.
Mr. Rimawi stressed the importance of such projects to combat hate speech which have spread widely, especially through social network outlets due to the Palestinian internal division.
“We appreciate the approval of IPDC Bureau on this important proposal, as IPDC is the only multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community to discuss and promote media development in developing countries” said Ms. Tannous.
She added that: “UNESCO Ramallah Office is so glad to work again with MADA especially on this very sensitive and important issue as countering hate speech.”
