The event, co-organized by the Kingdom of Morocco, the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and their partners, focused on the critical intersection of hate speech and artificial intelligence (AI) in the digital age.
Amb. Ngoga began by expressing Rwanda's gratitude to the organizers for their leadership in addressing the global rise of hate speech, emphasizing the urgency of countering its spread in an era where AI amplifies its reach.
'Rwanda strongly supports a coordinated global approach to regulating AI and digital platforms rooted in international human rights law,' Ngoga stated, highlighting the need for ethical safeguards to protect vulnerable communities, as outlined in the Global Digital Compact.
Drawing on Rwanda's painful history, Ngoga underscored the devastating consequences of unchecked hate speech, referencing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
'Radio broadcasts, newspapers, and state rhetoric dehumanized the Tutsi, paving the way for one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century,' he said.
This experience fuels Rwanda's deep conviction in the need for robust measures to combat hate speech and prevent its weaponization.
Ngoga also paid tribute to Professor Gregory Stanton for his influential work in genocide studies, which has shaped post-genocide jurisdictions, including Rwanda's own legal efforts.
Reflecting on his tenure as Rwanda's former Prosecutor General and his work with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Ngoga highlighted the landmark 'media trial' of Ferdinand Nahimana, Hassan Ngeze, and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza.
This trial, he explained, set a critical judicial precedent in distinguishing between protected free speech and criminal hate speech. 'The Tribunal for Rwanda resolved that problem,' Ngoga said, urging tech companies and global actors to draw on this jurisprudence to address hate speech in the digital realm.
The ambassador emphasized the evolving nature of hate speech, now accelerated by AI-generated content and algorithmic amplification. 'Online hate spreads faster than truth, radicalizes communities, and undermines the foundations of peace we have worked hard to build,' he warned, noting that behind every slur or viral image lie real consequences for real people.
The event aligns with the UN's broader efforts to counter hate speech, as outlined in the 2019 UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech and the 2021 UN General Assembly resolution proclaiming June 18 as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The resolution calls for increased efforts to address discrimination, xenophobia, and hate speech in line with international human rights law.
Echoing this sentiment, UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarked, 'Today, hate speech travels faster and farther than ever, amplified by Artificial Intelligence. Let's commit to using AI not as a tool of hate, but as a force for good. Let's stand united in the pursuit of peace, mutual respect, and understanding for all.'
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-urges-global-ai-regulation-to-combat-online-hate-speech
