Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
#PeaceJam is a key activity to DefyHateNow that usually comes up during the UN international day of peace. For a while now, the event has been moved to the 18th of June, inline with the international day for countering hate speech.
This year, tradition was again respected to the fullest. DefyHateNow joined the United Nations to counter discrimination, xenophobia and increased their efforts in countering hate speech. Focus was on how online safe spaces influence digital security.
A webinar to that effect was organized on June 18, 2023 where the global virtual community of DefyHateNow shared experiences and discussed ways of avoiding and kicking out hate in the society.
Most of the civil society activists who attended the webinar agreed that in using the social media “We all need to think before we click”.
The panelists at the webinar were unanimous on the fact that, “it is time to shift from theory to action”, in ensuring a safe digital space.
Partaking in the panel discussion was Digital Rights Activist, Baiye Frida, who emphasized on the need to identify and highlight the role of women in such conversations. Safe spaces, she added, should also be able cater for needs particular to ladies.
“When you talk about GBV more women will respond than men, women go more towards aspects that will empower them, something that they can learn from and change their lives positively…” she explained.
The session also touched on a range of happenings including digital policing by regimes in African countries such as Cameroon, Chad and Sudan.
Other panelists included South Sudanese cyber security professional, Ariik Robert Ajack, and Cameroonian lawyer and cybercrime expert, Barrister Balbine Manga, just to name but these.
The virtual event which crowned the activities of PeaceJam 2023 was just one in a series.
PeaceJam Jamboree
On the eve of the international day for countering hate speech, DefyHateNow organized a PeaceJam jamboree in Yaounde at the independence square. Various activities were on programme.
Activists and civil society actors explored ways to utilize online safe spaces as a tool to boost digital security.
The session which held offline, saw the performance of multiple music and dance groups.
The International Mbaya Dance Group of Binka, performed melodies from different cultural regions of the country, passing across a message of peace and unity.
According to the organisers, the event was aimed at engaging internally displaced persons and host community youths in mitigating hate speech in Cameroon.
Besides organizing events, DefyHateNow partnered with some organizations, peace activists and institutions to organise similar event in their respective settings.
The different events used improvised strategies to build peace based on the energy generated by their own creative expressions rather than relying on predetermined plans.
One of such events was PeaceJamOnAir2023, that was broadcast on Radio Siantou (RTS), with Podcasts published on News Upfront (www.newsupfront.com).
Religious, traditional and community leaders exchanged on the notion of peace, hate and living together in Cameroon, highlighting avenues to eradicate vices and promote virtues.
