WCAR Outcomes on the Media & New Technologies - Summary
WCAR recognised “the positive contribution that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, particularly by the media and new technologies, including the Internet, and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can make to the fight against racism” (Declaration para 90) but expressed regret “that certain media, by promoting false images and negative stereotypes of vulnerable individuals or groups of individuals, particularly of migrants and refugees, have contributed to the spread of xenophobic and racist sentiments among the public and in some cases have encouraged violence by racist individuals and groups” (Declaration para 89).
The following measures were proposed in the Programme of Action (PoA).
Legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative and other measures
- Implement international
human rights standards, in the form of domestic legal sanctions, with respect
to incitement to racial hatred through new information and communications
technologies, including the Internet.
- Promote measures through the media to deter the emergence of and counter neo fascist, violent nationalist ideologies which promote racial hatred, racial discrimination or xenophobia, especially where these ideas affect young people.
Codes, policies, practices & regulatory measures
- Promote the development by all forms of media, through their relevant associations and organizations at the national, regional and international levels, and with appropriate State support, of a voluntary ethical code of conduct and self regulatory measures, and of policies and practices aimed at:
- Encourage Internet
service providers to establish and disseminate specific voluntary codes of
conduct and self-regulatory measures against the dissemination of racist messages
and those that result in racial discrimination, xenophobia or any form of
intolerance and discrimination.
- Encourage Internet
providers to set up mediating bodies at national and international levels,
involving relevant civil society institutions.
- Adopt and apply,
to the extent possible, appropriate legislation for prosecuting those responsible
for incitement to racial hatred or violence through the new information and
communications technologies, including the Internet.
- Address the problem
of dissemination of racist material through the new information and communications
technologies, including the Internet, inter alia by imparting training to
law enforcement authorities, and by strengthening international co-operation.
- Encourage access
and use by all people of the Internet as an international and equal forum,
aware that there are disparities in use of and access to the Internet.
- Examine ways in
which the positive contribution made by the new information and communications
technologies, such as the Internet, can be enhanced through replication of
good practices.
- Encourage the reflection of the diversity of societies among the personnel of media organizations and the new information and communications technologies, such as the Internet, by promoting adequate representation of different segments within societies at all levels of their organizational structure.
a) Combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
b) Promoting the fair, balanced and equitable representation of the diversity of their societies, as well as ensuring that this diversity is reflected among their staff;
c) Combating the proliferation of ideas of racial superiority, justification of racial hatred and discrimination in any form;
d) Promoting respect, tolerance and understanding among all individuals, peoples, nations and civilizations, for example through assistance in public awareness-raising campaigns;
e) Avoiding stereotyping in all its forms, and particularly the promotion of false images of migrants, including migrant workers, and refugees,
Prepared by the Race Discrimination Unit, Australian Human Rights Commissions.
