As all man-made calamities, experience shows that when addressed early enough through pertinent prevention policies, it is possible to contain or stop it. Even better, prevention initiatives have positive consequences for our democracies: based on the principles of the common good and constitutional rights, they protect and strengthen democratic values. Addressing hate speech requires a coordinated response from governments, civil society and the private sector.
Throughout 2020, GAAMAC’s community has mobilized to act against hate speech. As a landmark activity, on 1 September, GAAMAC launched together with its partner the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies the “Decoding Hate Speech” online series with the aim to increase the understanding of and raise awareness about online hate speech within the atrocity prevention community and beyond in the lead up to GAAMAC IV.
GAAMAC’s community has strengthened its knowledge and expertise on some of the key vectors of hate speech such as the weaponization of new technologies. In 2021, it will further build upon this rich knowledge through in-depth discussions with diverse stakeholders and experts on vectors of hate speech and how to tackle them. All learnings and recommendations from these discussions will feed into and enrichen the exchanges that will take place during GAAMAC’s fourth Global Meeting which will take place in November 2021.
2021 will be a year when GAAMAC’s community is convened under a new leadership; Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi. On 16 November 2020, GAAMAC’s Chair officially passed over from Switzerland to Argentina during a virtual event titled “High-level event on atrocity prevention on the occasion of the handover of the Chair of GAAMAC”, premiering a video featuring voices from its community to mark the occasion. Founding members, partners, regional initiatives members, atrocity prevention experts and former global meeting participants shared their reflections and recommendations for the prevention platform. On this occasion GAAMAC also highlighted the role of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council as well as other multilateral institutions in promoting atrocity prevention. The High Commissioner for Human Rights delivered a keynote speech to that end.
By Jelena Pia-Comella, Managing Coordinator
Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) is a global and inclusive network of states, civil society and academic institutions that aim to support states in establishing national architectures and policies for the early and permanent prevention of atrocities.
General aspects
PARTICIPANTS
During the month of September, 2021 the Civil Association “Democracia Global”, along with partner the organizations - “UMA”, “Democracy Without Borders”, “UNPA Campaign” and two Regional Academic Partners - Goa University and Sharda University, carried out the second Model of the Parliamentary Assembly of the United Nations (UNPA) in India on the theme Gender Equality.
A World Plan for the Environment Health, Immigration and Work
An active role of the European Union
The division of humanity into sovereign nation states prevents global problems, including changes in the climate due to human activity, pandemics and immigration, to be effectively addressed.
The European Citizens Initiative for Carbon Pricing to push the EU Commission for an European climate policy.
15 June 2021, 5.30 - 7.00 PM (CET)
For a Global Green Deal
Chair, Daphne Gogou, member of the Executive Bureau of the UEF
Introductory speech, Guido Montani, former President of UEF-Italy
The pre-COP26 of Milan, 30 Sept./2 Oct. 2021, Martina Comparelli, spokesperson of Fridays for Future Italy
The effects of climate change for the African people, Davis Reuben Sekamwa, Fridays for Future Uganda
Debate
Conclusions, Keith Best, Chair of the Executive Committee of WFM
To participate please connect to the following link:
https://meet.jit.si/UnionOfFederalists
“We have taken the first step in the creation of the federalist caucus of national and European parliamentarians who share the view that the Conference on the Future of Europe is an opportunity to transform the EU”, said MEP Brando BENIFEI, President of the Spinelli Group, summing up the more than two hours of open and fruitful debate that took place last Friday with colleagues from Member States. "This was a successful kick-off. I am delighted by the great interest from national parliaments".
Publications