Launch of the IVerify platform : Statement delivered by UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi.

Ladies and gentlemen

I am pleased to be here today, on behalf of the United Nations Country Team, at the launch of IVerify platform for identification and mitigation of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech. I would like to thank the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Independent Radio Network (IRN), BBC Media Action, UNDP, government and state institutions, and everyone that has contributed to the creation of the IVerify platform. We are also extremely grateful to all our donors that have supported this important initiative, namely the UN Peacebuilding Fund, UNDP, Ireland, European Union, Canada and Iceland.

This event is particularly important, as it takes place in the week of the International Fact-Checking Day, promoted by the International Fact-Checking Network in partnership with fact-checking organizations around the world. 

The advance of the Internet, social media and Artificial Intelligence has contributed to inclusion, transparency and participation of citizens in governance, but also carries risks and challenges to the integrity of the information landscape with ramifications on democratic processes.

In July 2021, the UN General Assembly highlighted global concerns over “the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech” around the world and adopted a  resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”.

The resolution recognizes the need to counter discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech and calls on all relevant actors, including States, to increase their efforts to address this phenomenon, in line with international human rights law.

Freedom of opinion and expression are, indeed, cornerstones of human rights and pillars of free and democratic societies. These freedoms support other fundamental rights, such as to peaceful assembly, to participate in public affairs, and to freedom of religion.

Alongside the relevant international human rights law provisions, the UN has also developed the “Rabat Plan of Action” that provides key guidance to States on the difference between freedom of expression and “incitement” (to discrimination, hostility and violence), which is, frequently, prohibited under criminal law.

The “Rabat Plan of Action” emphasizes the role of politicians and religious leaders in preventing and speaking out against intolerance, discriminatory stereotyping and instances of hate speech.

As the country move towards general elections in June this year, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech remain a major challenge.

Over the past two years, the country has seen a flood of hateful statements on social media perpetrated, mainly, by political rivals in the country and abroad. The United Nations, Inter-Religious Council, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and several other civil society organizations have expressed grave concerns over the proliferation of videos, audios, and messages with incendiary contents on social media, which have the potential to create an irreversible ethno-regional divide and cause unrest in the country.

As the UN has developed the IVerify tool to facilitate identification and fact-checking of potential disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, the fight against disinformation, misinformation and hate speech remains a shared responsibility of all citizens and non-citizens, state and non-state actors, representatives of government institutions, religious leaders and political leaders, through the  promotion of political tolerance and peaceful communication. This is particularly important in election times, as information travels from social media to radio channels and to the general public.   

Tolerance is a key ingredient of democracy.  It implies acceptance and respect of diversity and political pluralism. In this regard, we commend the Political Party Regulation Commission for their efforts to maintain a space for dialogue among political parties and we encourage them, together with the government, Electoral Commission, Police and the whole security sector, to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and actors and increase efforts to foster political tolerance. We also call on opposition parties to join hands with state institutions and act responsibly, equally promoting tolerance and peace.

Political deadlocks and violent conflicts hamper peace and stability and, consequently, undermine development and social cohesion and, frequently, cause unnecessary suffering among people.  Thus, promoting dialogue between different actors and groups of society, particularly youth, women and political parties, is a central ingredient of democracy and conflict prevention.

Women and young people have a key role to play in the present and future of democracy.  Engaging women and young people in democratic processes and allowing them to participate, safely and constructively, in politics, either as voters, activists or candidates, are core aspects of any effort to sustain democracy.  We look forward to the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and we call on political parties and state institutions to increase opportunities for women and young people’s participation.

Sierra Leone has made notable progress in the consolidation of democracy. But this progress places a great responsibility on national institutions, government, security sector, and people of the country as well as on all political actors to ensure that the country remains peaceful and stable, as we move towards the general elections. 

A fundamental prerequisite for credible elections is that everyone concerned can participate in the elections, whether as a voter or as a candidate, in peace and without fear. We, therefore, welcome any initiative, which helps to sustain a non-violent environment.

The launch today is an important milestone in underlining and re-emphasizing our joint commitment and collective responsibility to strengthen information integrity.

I wish to congratulate once again SLAJ, IRN, BBC Media Action and UNDP for the set-up and roll-out of the iVerify and wish them success in the implementation of this important system and in carrying out this important mission in the months to come.

Thank you.