After two days on concerting through a Colloquium on Hate Speech and Xenophobia in Cameroon, the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism has identified 33 points to fight Hate Speech and Xenophobia in the country.
The Colloquium that took place from the 5th to the 6th of May 2021 at the Yaounde Conference Centre brought together experts and stakeholders exchanged on historical, political, social, legal and anthropological origins of hate speech and Xenophobia in Cameroon.
The 33 recommendations identified by the participants who took part in the Colloquium spans from political, legal, social, institutional to communicational and educational solutions to fight against hate speech and Xenophobia.
Some of the recommendations amongst others include the putting in place of a national coalition to fight against hate speech associating all stakeholders as well as relay organisation like the National Youth Council and National Communication Council, the dessemination of the concept of education to media and information as a non-repressive solution to hate speech in the short term, the sensitization of the diaspora on the hateful and xenophobic nature of its speech, the sensitization of political parties to the necessity to educate their militants on Hate Speech and Xenophobia, the promotion of non-violent communication and peace journalism.
Other points include the introduction of civic education and ethics in the curricular of primary and secondary schools, the implementation of youth services in the middle term and the reduction of the population’s perception according to which there are two main linguistic groups that hate each other fundamentally, proceed with the deconstruction of ethno-regional groups to the orientation of public perceptions and depolitization of ethnic identity, the creation of a citizen social network which more dynamic and the revision of the electoral code in the long run.
Speaking during the closing ceremony the President of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism expressed hope that these recommendations if adopted and implemented may help in eradicating hate speech and Xenophobia in the country.
It should be recalled that the Colloquium was organized within the framework of a national communication campaign against hate speech and Xenophobia in Cameroon prescribed by the Head of State and launched by the NCPBM early this year.
Created as part of the solution to solve the anglophone crisis, the NCPBM is an advisory organ placed under the authority of the President of the Republic, responsible amongst others to submit reports and recommendations on issues relating to the protection and promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism to the President of the Republic and the government as well as monitor and implement constitutional provisions establishing French and English as two languages of equal status and especially ensuring their use in all government services, semi-public bodies as well as any State subsidized body.
