#defyhatenow is an initiative that focuses on providing community-based and data-driven solutions to combat hate speech, disinformation, and misinformation. Their main goal is to create a framework that increases trust between stakeholders by mobilizing civic action against all forms of hate speech and incitement to violence, including disinformation related to the Covid-19 pandemic. They believe in supporting the voices and actions of citizens working against online-induced conflict within and outside affected regions.

To achieve this, they involve youth, community leaders, grassroots organizations, and civil society stakeholders in a peace-oriented media and information literacy framework. #defyhatenow bridges the knowledge and awareness gaps of social media mechanisms between those with access to technology and those without, making it a growing network of online and offline peacebuilders. They work in South Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Sudan, and their activities include online hate speech mitigation, digital skills training, and the enhancement of responsible newsrooms and social media platforms for a #HateFreeCameroon.

Join #defyhatenow in their mission to create a safer and more peaceful online community