2023 Elections: Human Rights Commission Goes After Promoters Of Hate Speech

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is set to probe persons accused of hate speeches or inflammatory statements within the context of the recently held 2023 general elections.

The Commission said it has already compiled register for those that engaged in the promotion of speeches capable of inciting an ethnic group against the other with the intention to cause harm and destabilise the peace of the nation.

NHRC made the disclosure at a roundtable on the role of media in countering and reporting hate speech in Abuja on Friday.

Hate speech is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.

NHRC said it will soon establish an enforcement mechanism, invite the perpetrators of hate speech during the 2023 election period to defend themselves, finalise and publish reports on hate speech in the context of 2023 elections and activate powers of the commission in its enabling laws.

It, however, failed to mention the names of the people penciled down for investigation and possible prosecution.

Perpetrators on the list of the hate speech register include politicians, party supporters, students, youths, social media influencers, clerics – pastors and Islamic clerics – and Nigerians in the diaspora, it said.

Executive secretary of the Commission, Barrister Tony Ojukwu, said to the recipient of hate speech, “it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.”

Also, United Nations resident coordinator, Matthias Schmale, said hate speech in the digital space is causing grave global harm – now. It is fueling conflict, death and destruction – now. It is threatening democracy and human rights – now. It is undermining public health and climate action – now.

The two-day event is organised by both the UN and NHRC on the role media can play in addressing all forms of hate speech, including social media, while protecting freedom of speech.