BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct 15 (IPS) – Information manipulation and disinformation are not new phenomena, but they have acquired exaggerated significance, especially with the massive use of social media.
Hostile and stigmatizing narratives against civil society and citizen activism, whether intentional or not, especially when propagated by authorities, create unnecessary restrictions and hinder the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association worldwide, and contribute to the increasing authoritarianism and the closing of public space.
Various types of unwarranted narratives are used worldwide to target and silence civil society activists and protests: i) accusations of threats to state security and terrorism, facilitated by broad anti-terrorism laws. ii) labels associated with betrayal of the nation and national influence, including calling “foreign agents” or “agents of foreign influence” organizations that receive foreign funding. iii) “anti-development” rhetoric used to target land rights defenders and climate justice activism. iv) stories that exploit discrimination and structural racism, including sexual and gender-based violence, and attacks on associations helping refugees and migrants; among others.
The problem is that these stories, labels and narratives do not remain exclusively in the discursive field. Activists who are victims of stigmatization, and their families, face intimidation, physical attacks and online harassment.
Branding civil society, movements and activists as ‘terrorists’ or ‘traitors’ has a serious impact on their lives, well-being and economic situation; it silences them and leads to the defunding of associations and their illegal dissolution.
The broad chilling impact created by the stigmatization of civil society and popular assemblies further severely limits people’s ability to fully participate in society, exacerbates inequality, fosters an environment of fear and hostility, increases polarization and undermines trust between authorities and the public.
This hostile atmosphere provides fertile ground for the rise of anti-rights movements and rhetoric, and erodes democracy.
Its impact is particularly greater for individuals and groups who already experience greater barriers to exercising their freedoms and who are subject to inequality, marginalization, racism, discrimination and violence because of, among other things, their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age and/or or migration status.
Stigmatization is spread by a wide range of actors, including political actors, government officials and non-state actors, often supported by disinformation and smear campaigns, but also by populist rhetoric from authorities and public figures.
I have discovered a mutually reinforcing cycle of stigmatization, restrictive laws, and repression of civil society and activism. Hostile and stigmatizing rhetoric leads to sweeping restrictions, the adoption of restrictive laws, including the imposition of excessive regulations, burdensome administrative requirements and heavy sanctions, and the criminalization of associations while cutting off their funding.
These measures further fuel stigmatization and give actors the opportunity to spread stigmatizing stories.
Also, stigmatizing narratives, especially when spread by those in power and amplified by the media, have legitimized the repression of activists and peaceful gatherings. While the unwarranted heavy-handed law enforcement tactics and criminalization of protesters and activists have served to promote stigmatization and delegitimize the legitimate objectives of peaceful assembly.
There are several initiatives to respond to and counter harmful narratives against activism, civil society organizations and meetings. First, it is critical to counter anti-rights narratives and develop narratives that promote messages to reinvigorate public support for democracy and human rights. All initiatives that change the narratives based on hate to messages supported in hope must be multiplied.
Hate is a better transmitter of stigmatization than hope.
Taking into account that stigmatization forces dissent to be silenced, it is important to increase the space for dialogue and inclusion, promote the valuable and legitimate role of the civil society sector and create a safe space for inclusive create participation. When there is room for diversity of voices, silence is more difficult.
Solidarity and building resilience are key to supporting associations targeted by stigmatizing and hateful rhetoric. Measuring the existence and impact of harmful narratives, including information on the long-term chilling effect they have on the exercise of public freedoms and other human rights, can help the public and opinion makers better understand and more critical statements are made. debates.
States should, among other measures, ensure that official rhetoric respects and supports fundamental freedoms and avoids the use of narratives and political discourse that discourage, vilify and criminalize civil society and the exercise of the right to protest.
States should also condemn and address harmful rhetoric and promote alternative narratives, as well as a climate of public dialogue and inclusion in decision-making.
Fearing and persecuting dissent drives societies away from the rule of law, democracy and human rights, claiming hundreds of lives every year.
Gina Romero is UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service