We publish the conclusions and recommendations of four regional expert meetings organized by OHCHR in 2011, adopted by experts in Rabat (Morocco) on October 5, 2012.
Conclusions and recommendations of four regional expert meetings organized by OHCHR in 2011, adopted by experts in Rabat (Morocco) on October 5, 2012
I. Preface
In 2011, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organized a series of expert workshops in various regions of the world on the issues of propaganda of national, racial or religious hatred and its interpretation under international human rights law. During the meetings, participants reviewed the situation in various regions and discussed strategic responses, both extra-legal and legal, related to incitement to hatred.
Events took place in Europe (Vienna, 9 and 10 February 2011), Africa (Nairobi, 6 and 7 April 2011), Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, 6 and 7 July 2011) and the Americas (Santiago de Chile, 12 and 13 October 2011). [1] Thus, the goal of OHCHR was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the implementation at the national and regional levels of legislation, legal and political practice in the field of propaganda of national, racial or religious hatred, consisting of calls for discrimination, hostility or violence [2] , at the same time promoting the development of a fully respectful attitude towards freedom of speech (self-expression), protected by international human rights legislation. The main focus of the discussion was the relationship between freedom of expression and hate speech, especially in the area of religion - an issue that is increasingly in the spotlight and has repeatedly caused tensions and episodes of violence both between and within different communities.
The 2011 expert meetings provided a wealth of information and a range of practical proposals for more effective ways of implementing relevant standards in international human rights law. [3] To take stock of the series of meetings held in 2011, OHCHR initiated a final expert meeting (in Rabat, 4 and 5 October 2012) to benchmark the results of the four previous meetings, formulate possible actions at all levels, and think about the best ways and means of sharing experience.
The expert meeting in Rabat was attended by four moderators and experts from all four previous meetings, including the Special Rapporteur on freedom of speech and expression, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, representative of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and representative of the non-governmental organization “Article XIX”
In accordance with the practice of previous meetings, participating States were invited to participate as observers. They were recommended to include leading experts in their delegations. Relevant UN departments, funds and programs, as well as relevant international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations (including the press, academic and religious organizations) were also invited to participate as observers.
The outcome document below reflects the conclusions and recommendations developed during the Rabat meeting by experts who participated in all four workshops or moderated one of them.
II. Context
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and the fabric of society more multicultural, incidents in recent years in various parts of the world have brought renewed attention to the issue of incitement to hatred. It should be emphasized that, despite this, many of the conflicts that have unfolded in the world in recent decades also, to varying degrees, also contained a component of inciting national, racial or religious hatred.
All human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. This interdependence becomes abundantly clear in the discussion of how the right to free speech relates to other human rights. The implementation of the right to freedom of expression makes possible lively, multifaceted debates on issues of interest to society, voicing different approaches and points of view. Respect for freedom of expression is critical to democracy and sustainable human development and contributes to peace and security in the world.
However, individuals and groups unfortunately become victims of various forms of discrimination, hostility or violence due to factors such as ethnicity or religion. One of the specific challenges in this area is curbing the negative consequences of manipulation of issues of race, ethnicity and religion, protecting against the unwanted use of concepts of national unity or national identity, which are often used, including for political and electoral purposes.
It is often argued that freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief are difficult to reconcile and may even contradict each other. On the contrary, they are interdependent and reinforce each other. Freedom to profess or not to profess a religion or belief is impossible in the absence of freedom of expression, since free public discourse depends on the degree of respect for the diversity of people's deep convictions. Likewise, freedom of expression is necessary to create an environment in which it is possible to have constructive conversations about religious issues. Indeed, free and critical thinking through open discussion is the best way to test whether religious interpretations are consistent with or distort the original values underlying the religion.
It is of concern that incidents that can actually be qualified as a violation of Art. 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) do not lead to prosecution or punishment. At the same time, members of minorities are subject to de facto persecution through abuses of unclear domestic laws, enforcement and procedures, which negatively impact other members of the community. This dichotomy, namely (1) lack of prosecution in cases of “real” incitement to hatred and (2) persecution of minorities under the guise of national incitement to hatred laws, appears to be significantly widespread. The laws against incitement to hatred used in different countries of the world can be characterized as heterogeneous, sometimes overly narrow or vague; Legal practice in the area of incitement to hatred is sparse and inconsistent, and although States have adopted procedures, most of these procedures are too general, not systematically applied, poorly focused and their effectiveness is not adequately analysed.
In light of the above, holding four meetings in all regions of the world and a final meeting in Rabat with the full participation of experts from relevant organizations and special mandate holders is a very timely and useful initiative.
III. Implementation of the ban on hate speech
A. Legislation
conclusions
In accordance with international human rights standards, which must be complied with by legislation at the national level, speech that falls under the definition of “hate speech” may be limited in accordance with Art. 18 and 19 ICCPR on various grounds, such as respect for the rights of others, public order, and sometimes even national security considerations. States are also required to “prohibit” speech amounting to “incitement” to discrimination, hostility or violence (under Article 20.2 of the ICCPR and, under certain other conditions, also under Article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ( ICERD).
Discussions during various meetings demonstrated that there is no legal prohibition against incitement to hatred in the statute books of many countries around the world. In addition, legislation prohibiting incitement to hatred is inconsistent in terminology, which is often inconsistent with Art. 20 ICCPR. The broader the definition of incitement to hatred in a country's legislation, the greater the potential for arbitrary application of these laws. The terminology associated with crimes of incitement to national, racial or religious hatred varies from country to country and is becoming increasingly vague as new categories of restrictions on freedom of expression are added to legislation. This increases the risk of misinterpretation of Art. 20 ICCPR and the emergence of additional restrictions on freedom of expression not specified in Art. 19 ICCPR.
Some countries' laws include offenses relating to incitement to both racial and religious hatred, while others deal exclusively with racial and ethnic issues. Some countries also prohibit incitement to hatred for other reasons. The approaches of states to the distribution of issues between civil and criminal law are also different. In many countries, incitement to hatred is a criminal offense, while in others it may be dealt with under both criminal and civil, or exclusively civil, laws.
At the international level, the prohibition of incitement to hatred is clearly defined in Art. 20 ICCPR and Art. 4 ICERD. In General Comment No. 34, the Human Rights Committee emphasizes that prohibitions on disrespect for a religion or other belief system (including blasphemy laws) are incompatible with the Covenant, except in the specific circumstances provided for in paragraph 2 of Art. 20 of the Pact. Such prohibitions must also comply with the strict requirements of paragraph 3 of Art. 19, as well as articles 2, 5, 17, 18 and 26 of the ICCPR. Thus, for example, it is unacceptable for such a law to provide discrimination in favor of one or a number of religions (belief systems) or against them, as well as discrimination against adherents of any religion (religions) in relation to others, or discrimination of believers in relation to non-believers. Nor should such prohibitions be used to prevent criticism of religious leaders or commentary on matters of religious doctrine and principles of faith, or as a punishment for such criticism or commentary.
Art. 20 of the ICCPR provides for a high threshold of liability in accordance with the fundamental principle that restrictions on freedom of speech must be an exceptional measure. This threshold must be considered in conjunction with Art. 19 ICCPR. Indeed, the test for the admissibility of restrictions (consisting of three parts - legality, proportionality and necessity) also applies to cases of incitement to hatred, i.e. restrictions must be established by law, defined narrowly enough to promote legitimate public interests, and must be necessary to protect those interests in a democratic society. This means, among other things, that restrictions must meet the following requirements: they must be clearly and narrowly defined, they must respond to a compelling social need, they must intrude to the least extent possible on public and private life, and they must not be too broad (i.e. . do not impose broad or vague restrictions on freedom of expression), be proportionate in the sense that the benefit to the interests protected outweighs the harm to freedom of expression, including in relation to the sanctions they impose.
At the national level, blasphemy laws are counterproductive because they can effectively censor dialogue and debate between and within different religious and ideological systems, as well as suppress criticism that, for the most part, may be constructive, healthy and necessary. In addition, many blasphemy laws provide varying levels of protection for different religions and, in practice, have often been and are being applied in a discriminatory manner. There are numerous examples of persecution of religious minorities or non-conformists, atheists and non-believers through the use of religious offenses legislation or the overzealous application of various neutrally worded laws. Moreover, the right to freedom of religion or belief, as enshrined in relevant international legal norms, does not imply the right to a religion or belief that is not subject to criticism or ridicule.
Recommendations
B. Enforcement
conclusions
An independent judicial infrastructure that is regularly brought into line with current international standards and legal practice, and whose representatives act impartially, objectively and with respect for due process of law, is critical to ensuring that the facts and legal qualifications are assessed in each case that meets international human rights standards. In addition, other checks and balances, such as independent national human rights institutions established in accordance with the Paris Principles, are necessary to protect human rights.
The level of recourse to judicial and quasi-judicial mechanisms in cases of alleged incitement to hatred is often extremely low. In many cases, victims come from disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. Throughout the world, information about precedent law in the field of prohibition of stimulation of hatred is reluctant. In some cases, this can be explained by the lack of legislation, the lack of adequate legislation, or the lack of judicial assistance accessible to minorities and other vulnerable groups that make up most victims of hatred. The lack of information about judicial practice may be associated with the lack of available archives, but also simply with the lack of appeals to the court due to insufficient awareness of the company and distrust of the judicial system.
It was proposed to establish a high threshold to introduce restrictions on freedom of expression in determining the excitement of hatred and for the application of Art. 20 MPGPP. The severity criterion necessary to overcome the threshold implies that only the most grave and emotionally charged insults are classified as arousing of hatred. Possible parameters for assessing the degree of hatred may include the cruelty of what has been said, the degree of harm, to which the speaker, the frequency and number of statements and the degree of their publicity called. In this regard, a test of six parts was proposed to determine the statements subject to persecution in criminal order.
Context : The context is very important for assessing whether specific statements really encourage discrimination, hostility or violence, it can be directly related to intentions and/or reason. Contextual analysis should place a statement in the social and political context that prevailed at the moment when this statement was made or spread.
Recommendations
S. Politics
conclusions
For all the importance of legal response, legislation is only part of a set of tools that can be used in the fight against the enemy language. Any relevant legislation should be supplemented by initiatives coming from various layers of society and focused on the multiplicity of political and practical measures to educate public consciousness, tolerance, awareness of change and open discussion. The purpose of these steps is the creation and strengthening of the culture of the world, tolerance and mutual respect between people, state officials and the judicial community, as well as the influence of the media, religious leaders and leaders of local communities in order to increase their ethical and social responsibility. The states, the media and society are collective liability in order to express a protest and take measures in accordance with international law in the field of human rights.
Political and religious leaders should refrain from the expression of intolerance or statements that encourage violence, hostility or discrimination. Their firm and timely statements are against intolerance, discriminatory stereotypes and the language of hostility also play a decisive role. It should be explained that the use of violence in response to the excitement of hatred is categorically unacceptable.
To eliminate the indigenous causes of intolerance, a much wider set of strategic measures is necessary, for example, in the field of intercultural dialogue (mutual understanding and interaction): the education of pluralism and the ability to appreciate the diversity, the attitude towards minorities and indigenous peoples the opportunity to fulfill their right to express opinions .
The states are responsible for providing minorities with the opportunity to use basic rights and freedoms, for example, by promoting the registration and functioning of their media organizations. States should encourage communities in their desire to access a wide range of opinions and information and share them, as well as welcome a healthy dialogue and discussion that arose as a result.
Some regions clearly preferred an outside-which approach to the fight against the excitation of hatred, in particular, applying socio-political measures and creating various types of institutions and processes, such as a commission to establish truth and reconciliation. The work of regional human rights mechanisms, specialized organizations, active civil society and independent monitoring institutions is fundamentally important in all regions of the world. In addition, positive traditional values, compatible with international-recognized norms and standards in the field of human rights, can also contribute to the fight against hatred.
The media and other means of communication play a fundamental role in ensuring freedom of expression and establishing equality. On a global scale, traditional media are still important, but they experience a significant transformation. New technologies - including digital broadcasting, mobile telephony, Internet and social networks - make possible significantly wider distribution of information and give rise to new forms of communication, such as blogosphere.
The steps taken by the UN Council for Human Rights, in particular, the adoption of a resolution of 16/18 “On the fight against intolerance, negative stereotypes, stigmatization, discrimination, calls for violence and the use of violence in relation to their religion or beliefs”, create A promising platform for effective, complex and comprehensive actions by the international community. This resolution requires the implementation and permanent state control over execution at the national level, including through the “Rabat plan of action”, which is a contribution to its implementation.
Recommendations to states
Recommendations of the United Nations
Recommendations to other interested parties
To pay attention to various groups or communities, giving their representatives the opportunity to speak out and be heard in a way that contributes to their better understanding, and, at the same time, reflects the attitudes of these groups or communities.
In addition, voluntary professional codes of behavior for the media and journalists should reflect the principles of equality, and effective steps should be taken to proclaim them and implement.
IV. Final remarks
Несмотря на систематическое внимание, уделяемое концепции свободы выражения мнения в международном законодательстве в области прав человека и во многих национальных законодательствах, практическое применение и официальное признание этой концепции осуществляются не в полной мере во всем мире. В то же время, во многих частях мира международным правозащитным стандартам о запрещении возбуждения национальной, расовой или религиозной ненависти еще только предстоит войти в национальное законодательство и политическую стратегию. Вышесказанное объясняет как объективную сложность, так и политическую деликатность определения возбуждения ненависти в духе уважения к свободе выражения мнения.
Вышеизложенные выводы и рекомендации являются шагами в направлении решения этих проблем, которые, как хочется надеяться, будут способствовать как дальнейшей работе внутри стран, так и международному сотрудничеству в этой области.
[1] Около 45 экспертов в различных областях приняли участие в четырех региональных совещаниях и встрече в Рабате. Более 200 наблюдателей приняли участие в дебатах.
[2] Ст. 20 Международного пакта о гражданских и политических правах гласит: «Всякое выступление в пользу национальной, расовой или религиозной ненависти, представляющее собой побуждение к дискриминации, вражде или насилию, должно быть запрещено законом».
В дальнейшем в тексте это будет упоминаться как « возбуждение ненависти ».
[3] С обращением Верховного комиссара к четырем экспертным совещаниям, справочными исследованиями, докладами экспертов, выступлениями заинтересованных сторон и отчетами о совещаниях можно ознакомиться по ссылке: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomOpinion/Articles19-20/Pages/Index.aspx
[4] Эти принципы были подготовлены организацией «Article XIX» на основании обсуждений, проведенных рядом заинтересованных сторон с участием экспертов-правозащитников в области международного права, специализирующихся по проблемам свободы выражения мнения и равенства. Принципы являются прогрессивной интерпретацией международного права и международных стандартов, принятой государственной практики (в частности, отраженной в национальных законах и решениях национальных судов), а также общих правовых принципов, признанных международным сообществом.
В соответствии с принципом № 12, в правовых системах стран должно быть указано (прямо или с помощью авторитетного толкования), что термины «ненависть» и «вражда» относятся к «интенсивным и иррациональным эмоциям осуждения, вражды и неприязни по отношению к целевой группе», что термин «пропаганда» следует понимать как подразумевающий «наличие намерения публично возбудить ненависть к целевой группе» и что термин «возбуждение ненависти» относится к «заявлениям о национальных, расовых или религиозных группах, создающим непосредственную угрозу дискриминации, вражды или насилия в отношении лиц, принадлежащих к этим группам».
Sources: