MHREC co-hosted a watch party in collaboration with the Anne Frank Youth Network on the 31st of March on Malta’s Freedom Day.
Following introductions from both organisations, MHREC began by recounting Malta’s colonial history leading up to the gaining of independence on the 21st of September, 1964. This occasion was followed by the withdrawal of British troops on the 31st of March, 1979. Both these events are now remembered and celebrated as Independence Day and Freedom Day respectively.
Afterwards, we had a brief icebreaker, in which the participants of the watch party were paired up and asked to discuss two questions;
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
How do you react to seeing hate speech or comments on social media?
The main topic of discussion during the watch party was freedom of expression, and how it is a protected right under Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (The Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
It is extremely important to make the distinction that hate speech is still prohibited as it may lead to more dangerous actions and incitement of violence or discrimination towards others. Freedom of expression as a concept and a right is too fundamentally important for us to allow it to be tainted by those who wish to use it for spreading hatred. Free media and pluralism depend on our ability to freely express our views, and it is what allows watchdogs to properly fulfil their roles.
We watched a video together, a short film called ‘The Shape’ which was directed by Belgian film director Jaco Van Dormael.
The short film is an artistic expression highlighting the importance of freedom of expression and strong communities. The poem recited towards the end of the video is ‘Liberté’, a poem written by Paul Eluard as an ode to liberty. It was written during the Axis occupation of France in 1942.
The watch party participants got together and created a word cloud based on their feelings after having watched the short film. The contents of this word cloud were then used as a foundation for everyone to write their own poems.
Some of the poems written and provided by participants;
“Indrawn into freedom, inspired with a struggle, confused with some pain, empowered with a strength, you’re taking a chance to include a peaceful weapon. Directing your thoughts to liberate till the end.”
“Powerful. With ink, we are inspired. With hope, we are empowered. With words, we express ourselves. With support, we are all powerful.”
“The ink on my paper is strong; it is freedom and hope- I am empowered.”
“Motivated to be better. Get people to feel included. At the moment it is confusing, but it’s looking hopeful. Not just for me, but for those to feel liberty.”
“Freedom of touch, freedom as much as heroes have, liberty has a smell, that we in the end can tell, feels as fulfilment.”
Following that activity, we examined real situations regarding the dangers of public figures spreading hateful or discriminatory rhetoric. Reference was made to the local case of Norman Lowell, a Maltese ultranationalist and far-right politician who filed a libel lawsuit following three newspaper reports in which he was referred to as a neo-nazi. In the end it was ruled that the newspapers were not at fault as Norman Lowell’s work would likely give one the impression of racism, xenophobia, and hatred.
The International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights, an international human rights treaty presented in the United Nations and signed in 1966, declares that; “Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.”
We were happy to see new faces present at the watch party, and hope to see more in the future at our upcoming events!
MHREC 