Khartoum, August 25 (Darfur24)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned that the growing spread of hate speech and misinformation in Sudan is increasing polarization and deepening social divisions as the war continues.
Heidi Mirza, communications and information officer at UNESCO’s Khartoum office, told UN News that the impact of the conflict, which began in April 2023, was no longer limited to violence on the battlefield but had also spread to the media and digital space.
Fake news and hate speech have become part of an environment that fuels the conflict, she said.
Mirza warned that unreliable information and hate speech “can increase polarization and deepen divisions within societies,” adding that UNESCO was working to strengthen the ability of individuals and communities to access reliable information, think critically and distinguish facts from misinformation.
She said the organization conducts workshops to support professional journalism and promote the safety of journalists and media workers, particularly in situations of war and conflict, while expanding media and information literacy programmes.
The programmes aim to promote critical thinking and public debate, raise awareness about the dangers of hate speech and misinformation, and encourage the responsible use of artificial intelligence, she added.
Mirza also warned that hate speech and misinformation could have serious consequences for the education sector, contributing to tension, division, bullying and discrimination in schools.
Students may not always realize that the content they share constitutes hate speech or misinformation, potentially creating “a state of fear and distrust,” she said.
UNESCO is working to incorporate media and information literacy, critical thinking and dialogue into Sudanese school curricula, while training teachers to verify the reliability of information and respond to hate speech.
Mirza stressed the importance of investing in media and information skills for teachers, journalists, young people and communities as a key element in building a more informed, resilient and peaceful society.
She said the difficulty of reaching communities because of the war and damage to infrastructure had led UNESCO to rely increasingly on local partnerships and media organizations to implement its programmes.
“Local entities understand the needs of communities better,” she said, stressing the importance of such partnerships in reaching affected populations.
Mirza said efforts to counter misinformation and hate speech should not rely on blanket censorship, emphasizing instead the need to strengthen people’s ability to access and critically assess reliable information.
Freedom of expression does not mean leaving speech that incites violence and hatred unaddressed, she said, calling for human rights-based responses and greater public awareness of the distinction between freedom of expression and hate speech.
UNESCO’s warning comes as Sudan enters its fourth year of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, amid growing political and social polarization and the widespread dissemination of misleading content, incitement and hate speech through traditional and social media.