Today @UN_CAR & @UNHumanRights published its 1st thematic report on incitement to hatred & violence in #CAR/ #RCA. Although hate speech alone cannot cause violence, incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence are early warning indicators & triggers of mass atrocity crimes.

Incitement to violence against ethnic & religious groups is one of the defining features of the protracted crisis in CAR & has facilitated the commission of atrocities. Inflammatory rhetoric deepened divisions between communities & spread identity-based distrust & hatred.

The report notes that "the cyclical and episodic dissemination of discourse and messages of hatred characterized these crises," with lasting consequences on social cohesion.

Why does hate speech and incitement to violence undercut the social fabric of communities?

"Messages of hatred & incitement to violence are inherently an attack on dignity, equality, tolerance, inclusion, diversity, which is at the very essence of the standards & principles of #HumanRights . They compromise the peace, harmonious development & stability of a country."

Ahead of the elections, MINUSCA and OHCHR encourage actors in CAR to:
continue preventing messages of hate and incitement violence
provide responses to discrimination and incidents of incitement to violence

Full report and recommendations
https://minusca.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/rapport_sur_lincitation_a_la_haine_et_a_la_violence.pdf