A number of experts and specialists have called for stronger co-operation among government institutions, media organisations, educational establishments and community groups to combat hate speech.
They stressed that promoting a culture of tolerance and mutual respect is a fundamental pillar for safeguarding social cohesion and national unity.
The remarks came during a seminar organised yesterday by the King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance (KHGC) under the theme, “Combating Hate Speech: A Shared Responsibility Towards a More Cohesive and Tolerant Society’.
The participants emphasised the importance of promoting awareness of responsible discourse, encouraging media outlets and digital platforms to adhere to professional standards, supporting educational and community initiatives, and strengthening the role of religious and cultural institutions in spreading a culture of dialogue.
They also called for enhancing co-operation among relevant stakeholders to counter hate speech and reinforce the values of tolerance and respect for human dignity.
KHGC’s Coexistence Department director Noura Abdulla Al Mansoori said that Bahrain had established a pioneering model of coexistence and successfully transformed the values of tolerance into national and international initiatives that promote dialogue and understanding among peoples and cultures.
The National Institution for Human Rights president Ali Al Derazi has warned that the world is witnessing ‘a worrying global rise in hate speech that threatens social cohesion’, noting that Bahrain has presented a successful model in promoting the values of citizenship and coexistence.
Head of the Crime Prevention Management Division at the Interior Ministry Major Fawz Mohammed highlighted that children have become increasingly vulnerable to the influence of hate speech through digital platforms.
She called for raising families’ digital awareness, activating protection tools, and enhancing prevention and rehabilitation programmes to protect children from exploitation and harmful content.
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