Calls at UN to prevent using social media as platforms for hate

As the UN paid tributes to the victims of the Sri Lanka Easter Sunday terrorist attacks calls were made to take action to prevent the use of social media to spread hate and bigotryWhile protecting freedom of expression we must also find ways to address incitement to violence through traditional and social media General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces said on Friday at the event commemorating the 253 victimsIt is sobering that the theme of World Press Freedom Day today is journalism in times of disinformationWe must ensure that new and evolving technologies promote and do not harm human security she addedDeputy SecretaryGeneral Amina Mohammed spoke about social media being used to spread hateThe world is experiencing a dangerous rise in intolerance xenophobia and racism And today such hatred spreads easily and swiftly on the InternetThe UN continues to strengthen its efforts to counter and prevent terrorism and violent extremism Mohammed addedSri Lankas Permanent Representative Rohan Perera was more forthright in calling for a consensus on how to regulate social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to prevent them from becoming the medium to spread hateIt is time for us to explore the possibility of an international consensus on a regulatory frameworkIt is vital if we are to preserve democratic space that valuable tools such as Facebook and Twitter among others are utilised as spaces to nurture healthy debate rather than breed violence and extremism he saidSri Lanka had temporarily banned all forms of social media immediately after the April 21 bombings because it was being used to circulate fake news and create enmity between communitiesAccess was restored on April 30Perera who is the chair of the Working Group on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism urged all nations to come together and adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism CCIT that was proposed by India in 1996Too much blood has spilt for us to remain deadlocked on this issueThe time has come for the international community to go beyond words and to demonstrate political will and commitment in taking the last remaining step to conclude the CCIT and complete the sectoral multilateral treaty regime to address the global phenomenon of terrorismThe international community must send out a strong signal of its collective will to combat terrorism and contribute to the effective implementation of the Global CounterTerrorism Strategy he addedIndias Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin joined Perera in appealing for an agreement on the CCITPerera has for more than two decades tried to steer us to an outcome on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism Akbaruddin saidPerhaps as a tribute to the victims in his country we can all try and strengthen efforts to achieve that objective of putting in place a global legal framework to counter a global scourge he addedDenouncing the use of religion to justify violence Mohammed said As a Muslim I know my faith preaches peace and tolerance Tragically yet again and again the world is seeing places of worship become killing grounds and houses of horrorChurches mosques synagogues and the religious sites of many faiths are being targeted for murder arson vandalism and desecration We must reject this form of violenceEspinosa reflected on how religions can bring people togetherI was deeply moved by the images of Sri Lankans Buddhist Christian Hindu Muslim Sinhalese Tamil and others donating blood to treat survivors she said Mosques and temples have opened their doors to Christian services That is an inspiring expression of courage and resilienceCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates