Call for submission: "Racism and the Internet"

In 2012, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Mr. Mutuma Ruteere, intends to research the issue of “Racism and the Internet” as one of his priority thematic areas.

Within this broad area of research, the Special Rapporteur will pay particular attention to identifying key issues and challenges in combatting the use of the Internet in propagating racist and xenophobic content, incitement to racial, and xenophobic violence as well as good practices and initiatives undertaken at all levels to address those challenges and issues. 

The thematic research will culminate in the report that the Special Rapporteur will present to the UN General Assembly in 2012.

In this regard, the Special Rapporteur would like to invite anyone to contribute to this research by submitting information on:

• Key issues, dilemmas and challenges in combating the use of the Internet to propagate racist and xenophobic content and incitement to violence.
• Governance of racist and xenophobic content on the Internet, and appropriate balance between the protection of freedom of opinion and expression and the control of racist and xenophobic content and incitement to violence through the Internet.
• Key legal and policy measures taken at national, regional and international levels to combat the use of the Internet in promoting racist and xenophobic views and incitement to violence.
• Possible good practices at national, regional and international levels in combating the use of the Internet to propagate racist and xenophobic views and incitement.
• Possible good practices in terms of initiatives and measures to promote the use of the Internet as a tool against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.

The Special Rapporteur would like to encourage that the information submitted highlights in particular good practices, lessons learnt and promising experience in addressing the use of the Internet to propagate racist and xenophobic content and incitement to racial violence as well as in promoting the use of the Internet to contribute to combatting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The Special Rapporteur would appreciate receiving your views and information pertaining to the above research by 03 August 2012. Submissions should be sent to racism@ohchr.org.