As the general election draws near, controversial debates, opinions and political campaigns have surfaced. Hate speech is one instrument that have been consistently employed during political campaigns. Ahead of the impending general election however, the United Nations has effectively strengthened its message against hate speech and actions that can enact profiling and violence against people on the basis of their ethnic groups, language, religious convictions or political choices. The United Nations further noted that it would activate the instruments within its disposal to ensure sanctioning individuals or groups that enact hate speeches or actions in the course of the election campaigns. Politicians were also urged to eschew this action to avoid crisis in the country.
This message was passed during a press conference organized by the United Nations System in Nigeria to celebrate the International Day in Memory of the victims of the holocaust which took place at the UN House in Abuja on Thursday. This commemoration is known to take place every January 27 and the theme for this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day was started with “How hate speech can cause real harm.” Mr. Matthias Schmale, the United Nation’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria stated that it was necessary for the country’s political figures to desist from using words that may trigger chaos within the country. He stressed that the holocaust in Germany in which over 6 million Jews were extrajudicially killed was triggered by hate speech against the Jews.
Public urged to be vigilant to avoid words being weaponized to cause harm.
Mr. Schmale noted that with the imminence of the national election, everyone must be aware of upsurges in hate speeches and misinformation, especially in cases of high tension between political, regional and ethnic groups. He urged the public to be immensely vigilant to avoid words being weaponized to cause physical harm. He again stressed on the necessity of avoiding the steps of historical experiences in committing atrocities like the holocaust which was heralded by hate speech against the Jews, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda or the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica.
Continuing on, he asserted that hate speech was a huge threat to our individual values and convictions, as well as the cohesions of the society. He also noted that hate speech was a threat to the lives of the most vulnerable in the society. He admitted that although the presence of social media had supercharged this risk, the resilience of young people must be further strengthened against hate and educate them on the dangers of misinformation. Mr. Schmale urged the government to use the Holocaust Remembrance Day as a lesson and as a means to ensure the upholding of human rights and dignity of all citizens.
United Nations urged political figures to avert from crisis.
On the Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration, he noted that the UN remembered the six million Jewish people, as well as the Sinti and Roma, people with disabilities and every other victims of the holocaust, killed by the Nazis and their abettors. He also mourned the victims of World War Two, and per reflection of our humanity, renewed the UN’s promise for these horrors never to happen again. Nigeria’s 1967-1970 civil war which saw the deaths of at least three million people, this led to hate speeches geared by politically and regionally motivated crisis in which millions of people have become victims.
The impending general election in Nigeria presents an uncertain moment in the country’s political history. However judging by the previous occurrences of electoral irregularities and violence in Nigeria, the United Nations was quick to urge political figures and the general public to avert from actions that might ruin the country’s chances at progress. The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres in his speech, stated that while the organization mourned the holocaust, it must be recognized that the holocaust was not inevitable.
20% of Europeans still believe the Holocaust never happened.
António further explained that the holocaust was abetted by a deafening silence both home and abroad, immensely emboldening the perpetrators. The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman also speaking, lamented about existing denials about the realities of the holocaust. According to him, at least 20 percent of Europeans where this horrid event occurred either believe the holocaust never happened or feel it is exaggerated. He noted that the best way to ensure that this history is not repeated is by re-educating the world about the history.
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UN-forefront against hate speech in Nigeria – Political figures urged to desist from words that will trigger chaos.. – Express your point of view.
Well, i love the proposed. Politics should be differentiate from religion and ethnic groups. Thus, sanctioning individuals or groups that enact hate speeches or actions in the course of the election campaigns will be a better tool to tackle those against the decision made.
This is a diverse country with multiple religion and tribes the best things to the is stay away from any form of hate speech during argument or discussion in order to avoid violence.
This is a country with different religion and tribes so we should not say word that might trigger chao because chao is not a good thing which might cause alot of damage to us we should be careful of word we will utter to each other
The United Nations stated that it would activate the mechanisms that it has at its disposal to ensure that people or groups that engage in hate speech or activities during election campaigns would be subject to sanctions.
UN-forefront against hate speech in Nigeria. We have different religion and tribes in Nigeria. We need try our best to avoid crisis in Nigeria
The use of hate speech by the politicians or anyone should be condemn completely in totality because it doesn’t bring any good to the society and it causes division between people and anybody involve in it should be sanction .
The UN further stated that it will use the tools at its disposal to guarantee that anyone or any group that engages in hate speech or acts during election campaigns would be subject to sanctions.
Due to the wide variety of faiths and cultures present in this country, we must be mindful of the words we choose to speak with one another to avoid the potentially devastating effects of “chao.”
Politicians or anybody else who uses hate speech to advance their agendas or divide the public should be held accountable for their actions.
We should be careful with the words we use because our country has people of many religions and tribes, and since chao is not a good thing and could harm us severely, we should avoid saying anything that might do so.
In order to keep democracy the UN need to be in the forefront of against hate speech otherwise with way things are going in the country, there might not be election.
When we talk about hate speech, this is the right time to bridle our tongues in order not to set the nation on fire. It very okay that the UN are in the forefront of hate speech to keep democracy alive in Nigeria.
In light of current events, it is imperative that the United Nations take a leading role in combating hate speech. Otherwise, elections may be called off altogether.
During the course of political campaigns, hate speech has been an instrument that has been utilized on a regular basis.
The United Nations also stated that it would activate the mechanisms that it has at its disposal to ensure that people or groups that engage in hate speech or activities during election campaigns would be subject to sanctions.
It was vital for the political figures in the country to refrain from using phrases that could incite turmoil within the country.
The importance of ensuring that we do not repeat the mistakes made in the past when it comes to committing tragedies like the Holocaust, which was preceded by hate speech directed toward Jewish people.
It was essential for the political figures in the country to refrain from using language that could potentially incite anarchy within the country.
The general election will soon take place in Nigeria, marking a juncture in the country’s political history that is fraught with uncertainty.