School of Peacemaking and Media Technologies has presented its interim report "Hate Speech in Media, Internet and Public Discourse of Kyrgyzstan – 2015”.

The report was based on the analysis of hate content carried in the surveyed print, broadcast, online media and social networks in Kyrgyz and Russian languages for November-December 2015 and data compared to other periods of the year, as well as the findings based on field studies.

The freedom of expression in the media scene of Kyrgyzstan is closely related to the lexis of hate, which is based on clearly xenophobic statements, political incorrectness and emphasizes poor journalistic standards in the media, while posts in social networks sometimes provoke network aggression. Despite the fact that Kyrgyzstan ranks higher in the Press Freedom Index[1], than the neighboring states in Central Asia, it still has problems with ethics.

The discriminatory language against minorities was also detected in those media outlets that describe themselves as analytical media. In their articles and reports about the problems faced by minorities, authors also create their negative image. Thus, the media contribute to the spreading of xenophobia – ethnic, religious, social and other types.

The Representative Office of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Kyrgyzstan, with the participation of representatives of the CIS Antiterrorist Center, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Commission on Religious Affairs, NGOs, experts and researchers, discussed the main causes of radicalization and the ways to prevent them.

Such data were submitted in the report of School of Peacemaking and Media Technologies that was presented on November 19 at the forum "Right to Equality and Nondiscrimination: Peacebuilding and Prevention of Ethnic Conflicts”.

The presentation was prepared under the media monitoring project supported by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).

The report contained the trends and dynamics of ethnic stereotypes used, as well as the types of hate speech spread in the media and on the internet of Kyrgyzstan, spoken out by high profile speakers.

The project aims to monitor and analysis of hate speech in the media and public discourse, development of recommendations, and public outreach campaign to prevent violence and discrimination against minorities in order to protect human rights and basic freedoms. 

Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders are the global awards for local peacebuilding. Awarded annually, they offer international recognition for grassroots peace activists in conflict-affected countries worldwide. These are inspiring individuals who are building a better tomorrow for their communities, in the world’s most fragile and needy places.More http://www.peacedirect.org/tp/

Russian for foreigners [students, tourists e t c] including learning for interpersonal communication and social intercourse in the Russian language, self-presentationtools, an elementary speaking and writing skills, overcoming the language barrier. Level: Waystage User; Threshol. Learning based on unique methods in consideration of native language of students. Duration of classes 1 hour 10 minutes five times a week including the practice in socio-cultural environment.

Please call: (0312) 69- 40 -15off; (0312) 69- 40- 16 off, 0771472892 mob. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

E-mail

peacemakingschool@gmail.com   www.ca-mediators.net    https://www.facebook.com/peacemakingS?pnref=lhc

Business writing and speaking in English, public, social and interpersonalcommunications, self-presentation tools, linguistic thinking, language thinking and reasoning, overcoming the language barrier. Level: Intermedia +.

Lessons are conducted 4 or 5 times a week. Please contacts: (0312) 69- 40 -15off; (0312) 69- 40- 16 off 0771472892 mob or peacemakingschool@gmail.com

School of Peacemaking and Media Technology, involved in media development and hate speech studies, has looked into the debates and comments in media and on the web that appeared after some Russian and local media outlets, online newspapers reprinted the article titled On Lions and Jackals with the subtitle Central State Channel in Kyrgyzstan Promotes Nazism.

The article was published on 19 May 2015 both on the websiteand in Moskovsky Komsomolets-Asia newspaper. It discussed inappropriate statements of Abdrakhman Alymbaev, former chairman of the National Union of Writers of Kyrgyzstan and public figure, in a TV programme Tooluktardyn Tok Shousu (Highlanders Talk Show) broadcasted on OTRK in December 2014. The host and guest of the programme were discussing the differences between ethnic groups residing in Kyrgyzstan. The author of the article in MK-Asia accused Abdrakhmanov and OTRK of "voicing Nazi ideas”.

Also, a 4-minute video demonstrating a part of this TV programme was uploaded to YouTube on May 19, 2015.

Experts of School of Peacemaking and Media Technologyfound more than 150 short articles, posts, comments that discussed this topic in media and on the web last week. The majority of publications contained hate speech, xenophobic clichés and stereotypes, dehumanising metaphors concerning both parties. When quoting public speakers commenting on this issue, journalists conveyed hate speech, which had negative impact on both the audience and commentators that were immediately involved in the debate and used offensive language.

School of Peacemaking and Media Technology in Central Asia is launching a series of master classes, workshops and consultations for NGOs, media, journalists, activists and users on mastering the skills of digital, linguistic and speech security, development of organizational and individual strategies of cyber risk management, creation of collective and individual safety cards for working on the internet, designing of network security policy.

Highly professional team of experts, with vast experience in media sphere, information security, researches and monitoring, has developed a training course for Central Asia subject to local specifics, laws, level of internet penetration, activity of users, and network communications.

Tools of linguistic and digital security will help improve network communications in the digital age, teach how journalists, rights activists and other users can make themselves safe from any possible internet attacks, and from voice or visual traps of internet trolls, who interfere with personal network communications.

Reports and master classes about it topics were presented at the Internet Forum by I. Sikorskaya and V.Mamedov, expertsof the School of Peacemaking and Media Technologies. Experts believe that new tools of linguistic, speech, digital security and visual hygiene will help journalists, rights activists and users improve their network communications in the digital age.

The study and master classes on linguistic, speech, digital security and visual hygiene were provided byat the 6^thannual international forumDevelopment of Internet Sphere in Central Asia InternetCA-2015, which was held May 14-15 in Almaty (Kazakhstan).At the forum were also participated experts from Kazakhstan, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and the OSCE.

The advanced course presented by Peacemakingschool’s experts goes beyond all existing methodologies since it offers the complex approach: from knowledge-based tools to technological skills and development of new network thinking in the digital age.

The Kyrgyz media celebrated World Press Freedom Day 2015 with relative freedom, under pressure from the political agenda, hate speech, digital security challenges and cyber threats.

School of Peacemaking and Media Technology presented the report of freedom of expression in local media and on the internet. Experts emphasised the influence of social and political agenda on the media content. Analysis of the last four months identified 7 major topics covered mostly by the media. The majority of articles and posts were using hate speech. The leading topics covered in the media and on the internet were the Chinese expansion and Kumtor; almost the same number of stories, articles and posts raised the issue of accession of Kyrgyzstan to EAEC.