To access the report: Media and Hate Speech Its Impact on Women and the LGBTQ Community in Tunisia
Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms has launched a new report entitled “Media and Hate Speech: Its Impact on Women and the LGBTQ++ Community in Tunisia” within the framework of the project “Feminists for All Future Rights and Freedoms.”
The report focuses on the patterns of hate speech directed against women and LGBTQ++ individuals and the persecution and violence they face in various media spaces.
It reveals how audiovisual media, particularly widely popular talk shows, and social media platforms, have become a ground for spreading this discourse, which takes many forms, such as dehumanization, stigmatization and defamation, incitement to violence, negative stereotyping, religious or cultural justification, mockery, and insult, exclusion, and marginalization.
It emphasizes that these discourses deepen social and political crises by reinforcing discrimination and social stigma, leading to the isolation and exclusion of affected individuals from public life, and limiting their opportunities.
The report also shows how hate speech is used as a political tool to silence opponents and critics, normalizing discrimination against women and the LGBTQ++ Community, and justifying exclusion and violence.
It warns about the serious impact of hate speech in public space, which is facing more restrictions, threatening freedom of expression, and creating an unsafe environment, especially for marginalized and targeted groups. The report calls for action to tackle this issue through legal, social, and media measures that protect these groups and promote equality and justice.
The report concludes by stating a series of recommendations:
Primarily to the state of Tunisia:
– Revising Legislation: Enacting laws that clearly and explicitly criminalize hate speech against women and the LGBTQ++ Community online and in the media, in line with international human rights standards
– Training Judicial and Security Authorities: Providing specialized training programs for judges and police on how to identify hate speech online, collect digital evidence, and follow up on related cybercrimes.
– Criminalizing Hate Speech and Recognizing it as a Form of Gender-Based Violence: Stopping incitement against civil society organizations defending LGBTQ++ rights and ensuring their protection.
– Creating Effective Reporting Mechanisms: Simplifying the process for reporting hate speech online, ensuring confidentiality for whistleblowers, and protecting them from retaliation.
– Supporting Media Content Monitoring Institutions: Strengthening institutions responsible for media content regulation, especially the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication.
Secondarily to Civil Society:
– Monitoring and Documenting Hate Speech: Tracking and documenting cases of hate speech against women and the LGBTQ++ Community online, and publishing regular reports on the issue.
– Advocating for Effective Legislation: Pressuring the government to adopt effective laws to combat hate speech, and launching advocacy campaigns to challenge discriminatory narratives in society.
– Empowering Women and LGBTQ++ Individuals: Working to enhance the ability of women and the LGBTQ++ Community to protect themselves from hate speech online and defend their rights.
– Enhancing Cooperation Among Civil Society Organizations: Strengthening coordination and collaboration among human rights organizations to maximize the effectiveness of their efforts.
Thirdly To the International Community:
-Encourage the Tunisian government to develop legislation and policies related to combating hate speech in the digital space.
-Provide necessary support for civil society organizations’ projects aimed at combating hate speech and protecting women and the LGBTQ++ Community.
-Strengthen international cooperation to exchange experiences and find the most effective methods and approaches in combating hate speech.
-Monitor the human rights situation in Tunisia, particularly regarding hate speech against women and the LGBTQ++ Community, and publish regular reports on the issue.
To access the report: Media and Hate Speech Its Impact on Women and the LGBTQ Community in Tunisia