Be part of #COMMIT

We are the COMMIT Team!

We are working in Austria, Greece, Italy the Netherlands and Belgium towards one goal: build a campaign that shows what everybody can do against hate in daily life.   We want to COMMIT against hate, to raise awareness about the easy tricks used to incite people against one another, promoting fundamental actions to resist and counteract hate in our society.

Would you like to join us in this effort?
Would you like to COMMIT yourself against hate?
If you agree with our vision, follow these easy steps in your daily life and spread the word: sign-out the COMMIT Declaration!

5 easy steps for awareness and action against hate

1. Fear & insecurity make us susceptible to hate speech.
We will recogniseour fears & vulnerabilities and understand how people or groups may seek to exploit them.
2. The desire to ingroup is natural to counter insecurity but in-grouping can easily push people in destructive directions.
We will critically assess our motivations and the promises of potential groups before and after joining.
3. Hate speech can negatively impact societal discourse and lead to discrimination and, in some cases, even violence.
We will recognise hate speech, understand the impact it has, and counteract it.
4. Active bystandership is the best defence against hate speech.
We will stand up early – seek allies – and remember that even the smallest actions count. Whether it’s liking positive comments online or intervening (safely) when we encounter hate speech or problematic situations, we will endeavour to make a difference.
5. Attack problems, not people.
Attacking individuals or groups of scapegoats will not solve our problems. We will search for root problems, instead of just attacking symptoms. We will attempt to resolve the problem itself, and not scapegoat others instead.

Do you agree with us?
Do you share our vision?
Do you COMMIT with us?

Do you need a hand for keeping this COMMITment?
Follow these simple rules, and do it everyday!

1. Hate hurts, sometimes kills 

Intolerance and violence can only be fought with respect and education. Hate cannot be fought with more hate!

 

2. Too often, judgements don’t go beyond appearances

Respect comes from knowing and understanding others. Put yourself in other people’s shoes!

 

3. Differences can be a source of fear

Differences shouldn’t be greeted with suspicion, but as an opportunity for enrichment. Treasure the differences!

 

4. Extremism is never good

Absolute positions don’t promote democratic debate. The world isn’t black and white. Love the colour!

 

5. Discrimination doesn’t value diversity

A fragmented society is a fragile society. Social cohesion is a fundamental value. Promote inclusion!

 

6. Labels cancel people’s uniqueness

Religious belief, political position, nationality or sexual orientation should not be used to discriminate a person. We are all human beings with equal rights!

 

7. Social media can be a toxic place

Sharing trolls and viral memes aimed at harming someone, something or a minority makes the web a toxic place. Make the web a better place!

 

8. Spreading fake news creates panic and confusion in society

Before sharing news, check its sources. Share news responsibly!

 

9. Hate speech on the web is uncontrollable

Hate speech can be a violation of human rights, so each of us must limit its spread as much as possible. Words have weight. Use words consciously!

 

10. Hate speech generates hate actions

The step from words to an act of physical violence is shorter than you think. Defuse hate at its origin!

Still not enough?

Keep scrolling…

 

  1. It is not your fault, if someone humiliates you. 
  2. Support those who are belittled by others and need help.
  3. Get to know your limits!
  4. Try to solve conflicts without violence!
  5. Do not put others down in order to make yourself look better.
  6. Respect your classmates, even if they are different from you.
  7. Both actions and inactions can impact others.
  8. Disrespectful statements hurt. 
  9. Fun with others is better than fun at the expense of others.
  10. If you experience humiliation, find someone you can trust and talk about it. Seeking support is not snitching!
  • Taking notice & evaluating the situation. If you notice that someone is unwell, you should take the situation seriously and not look away.
  • Be supportive when you notice someone is unwell. Show those affected that they are not alone. Show that you do not agree with humiliation.
  • Take responsibility & help: “I can do something. I support the person to the best of my ability.” Even if you are afraid that they will (also) turn against you.
  • Get help if you are worried about being attacked yourself!
  • Act & know how to help: “This is what I can do to improve the situation.”
  • If you don’t know what to do, you feel you can’t help or you don’t want to intervene: Get help.
  • The person may not want to talk to you, but you can encourage them to talk to someone they trust. 
  • Report injustice. Stand up & advocate for others. 
  • Do not overestimate yourself. Get help in time. You must and often cannot achieve everythingon your own. Do not put yourself in danger!
  • Pay attention and – if appropriate – act when you encounter injustice! This will also make you feel better.
  • Awareness of the role of victims, perpetrators & bystanders deserves special attention.
  1. Don’t comment, if you do not know enough about the situation.
  2. Don’t judge people, if you do not know them.
  3. Report! Report any suspicious comment, even if you are not sure. . .
  4. Don’t post when you are angry or in a bad
  5. Use facts & evidence.
  • Put out the flame
(= insulting someone virtually alone or in a group)
  • Avoid dissing 
(= making fun of someone in an excessive way)
  • Don’t trigger 
(= an emotional reaction caused by words and images that are traumatic for a person)
  • Stop the troll 
(= the deliberate action of making controversial comments online to provoke knee-jerk reactions from other users)  
  • Don’t fall for scam
(= the situation where, in online communities, extremists can find fertile ground to carry out their violent propaganda)  
  • Beware of banning
(= exclusion from a virtual community)

THE COMMIT TEAM invites you to:

 

  • Not reproduce content of extremism, fake news, hate speech, incitement to violence on your online personal profile/website and/or social media.
  • Assume an active role in preventing and combating the phenomenon through the (re)production of alternative and counter-narratives. 
  • Report comments/posts/articles containing extremist content, hate speech, incitement to violence and/or fake news to the respective competent body.
  • Check and verify your sources and each piece of news before reproducing it.
  • Not reproduce/republish any news before investigating the reliability of the news item and its source.
  • Not reproduce/post news and comments carried away by your emotions, so that the relevant news and/or comment do/does not constitute unjust slander or defamation.
  • Consider the “opposite point of view” before drawing conclusions or posting any material. 
  • Motivate your friendly, professional and social network to be informed about the sources used before any material is reproduced.
  • Produce positive contents with a view to raise awareness towards your peers online.

The COMMIT TEAM

CALLS ON social media and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies to

 

  1. invest in the Continuing Professional Development of employees aiming at capacity building for malicious content detection, as well as in the establishment of relevant systems for the rejection and/or deletion of relevant posts.
  2. renew, simplify and communicate the reporting procedures of the relevant malicious comments/posts in a comprehensible manner.
  3. create and implement software to monitor hate speech.

 

ENCOURAGES local, regional and national civil society actors to design and implement awareness-raising campaigns to inform the public about the dangers of the Internet.

 

WELCOMES AND ENCOURAGES cooperation between relevant public bodies, civil society organisations, Information Technology and Communication (ICT) companies to prevent and combat the proliferation of extremist content, hate speech, fake news and incitement to violence via the Internet and social media;

 

cooperation and involvement of the Mass Media in the dissemination of awareness-raising activities;

 

the participation of renowned and popular personalities in information campaigns in order to achieve greater public impact.

 

URGES the integration of educational programmes in schools to empower individuals to contribute to the prevention and fight against hate speech, sexist speech, incitement to violence and fake news.

 

ENCOURAGES research institutes and organisations to conduct continuous research on the push factors and root causes that drive individuals to hate speech and other aforementioned phenomena.

The COMMIT EUROPEAN Declaration has been created thanks to the work of the participants of the COMMIT Capacity Building in Italy, Austria, Greece and Netherlands.   

 

COMMIT Declaration

Thank you for signing in our COMMIT Declaration

It is important for us to know that so many people are committed, like us, in working everyday to combate hate!
Do you want to get in touch with other people with the same vision?

Please, sign it to the COMMIT NETWORK. (https://commitproject.eu/register/)

You will be able to share ideas, proposal, initiatives, good practices and questions, within our FORUM. (https://commitproject.eu/forum/)

We look forward to having you on board!

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The COMMIT team

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