OIPMA Urges Action Against Disinformation in the MENA region at the 55th Human Rights Council

27 March 2024, Geneva – At the 55th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, the International Organisation for the Least Developed Countries (OIPMA) delivered an oral statement urging action against the detrimental effects of disinformation, particularly in the MENA region.

Under the guidance of Article 39 of the Vienna Declaration, which advocates for the responsible and impartial dissemination of human rights and humanitarian information, OIPMA underscored the urgent need to address the manipulation of information by political Islam groups in the MENA region. This manipulation not only exacerbates conflicts and sectarian strife but also serves as a recruitment tool for extremist factions in various Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia.

To address these challenges effectively, OIPMA recommended the formation of a dedicated Working Group on Disinformation within the Council. This proposed body would be entrusted with the critical evaluation of information, discerning its veracity, origins, and intents. By doing so, it aims to safeguard the UN human rights framework from the infiltration of falsities.

OIPMA emphasizes that combating disinformation is essential for upholding human rights, promoting peace, and countering extremism in vulnerable regions. The organization calls on the Human Rights Council to consider its recommendation seriously and take proactive measures to address this growing threat.