A workshop at the UN base in Malakal has concluded with calls for appropriate measures to be put in place to combat hate speech on various platforms to pave way for peaceful coexistence among the communities in the area and South Sudan in general.

The two-day workshop brought together over 20 participants from a cross-section of society, including representatives of the media, civil society, women, religious leaders, and youth from both the protection of civilians site and Malakal town.

“Hate speech has torn apart the social fabric especially in our context here in Malakal were people are strongly divided based on political affiliation, stereotypes and spreading rumors through social media,” said Achol Nyibong Goyel, a woman leader in Malakal.

“That is why it is vital for us to work hand in hand as communities to expose such activities in order to promote social cohesion amongst ourselves,” added Nyibong Goyel.

Human rights education, identifying dangerous speech and its impact, and countering it – including on social media – were the issues in focus at the workshop.

Upper Nile is one of the regions that have been most affected by the conflict that has been raging for years in South Sudan, and encouraging dialogue between communities is seen as one way to give peace a chance.

“We are really affected here in this region and it is important to find ways for us to live in harmony and to curtail hate speech that has torn our communities in to pieces,” said Deng Amum Nyibong, a traditional court representative from the protection of civilians site. “I call for more tolerance, and as community we should defy hate speech now,” he added, rallying the community to shun what divides them.

Participants recommended more openness and interactive forums among communities, while calling for tolerance and forgiveness among South Sudanese.

The forum, Defy Hate Speech Now, was organized by the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the South Sudan Council of Churches.