Social Media 4 Peace project tackles gendered disinformation at Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum in Ghana

Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion

John Okande from UNESCO provided insights into Kenya's experiences with the SM4P project. He shared UNESCO's ongoing efforts to promote digital peace and combat online harmful content. To this end, UNESCO has been supporting several FECoMo initiatives to design mechanisms that address mis/disinformation and hate speech on digital platforms. Recently, 25 content creators and social media influencers were trained to use their influence and networks for digital peacebuilding.

Cherie Oyier from KICTANet shed light on the challenges faced by women online, including dismissal of their opinions, harassment, bullying, and body shaming 'These issues undermine democracy and freedom of expression," she stressed, highlighting the ways in which offline misogynistic stereotypes are mirrored online, particularly in the African context. This underscored the lack of understanding and inclusion, which contributes to gendered disinformation.

Miriam Beatrice from PIN advocated for inclusive strategies to assist all categories of women regardless of their socio-economic status. She talked of the concept 'Design with, not Design for' which emphasizes the importance of involving women in the decision-making process as part of the workforce at every level of development. Miriam also highlighted interventions by Paradigm on tackling gendered misinformation. PIN has also developed a toolkit called Ayeta, which provides tips and measures against digital threats. The organisation has also launched reporting channel, Ripoti, where digital violations can be reported and litigation support provided.

On his part, Muthuri Kathure from Mozilla Foundation observed that despite the prevalence of outrageous content shared for engagement, women typically bear the brunt of the backlash. He called for punishment for perpetrators of gender-based violence and capacity-building for law enforcement and judicial officials to enable them to handle technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

The panel discussion at DRIF24 emphasized the urgent need for collective action to combat gendered disinformation online. With initiatives like the SM4P project and advocacy efforts by experts, there is growing momentum toward creating a safer digital space. By leveraging tools like 'Ayeta' and 'Ripoti' provided by Paradigm Initiative and fostering inclusive strategies, stakeholders can work towards a more secure and inclusive online environment for everyone. Collaborative efforts and innovative solutions will empower change and build a digital future that prioritizes rights and inclusion for all.

This article was adapted from an original blog post written by Noreen Wekati and originally published on the FECoMo Kenya website. Noreen is a Research Analyst at the Africa Centre for People, Institution and Society (ACEPIS) and an active member of the Coalition under UNESCO's Social Media 4 Peace project.

UNESCO's Social Media 4 Peace Project

This initiative is implemented under the UNESCO EU-funded "Social Media 4 Peace" project, which seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech inciting violence while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media. The project is also being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, and Colombia