The Christchurch Call initiative, which arose in connection with the attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city, was co-founded in 2019 by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron. The platform brings together more than one hundred and thirty entities—from governments and online service providers to non-profit organisations—to combat terrorist and violent extremist content on the internet. The Christchurch Call is associated with a series of global initiatives that, in addition to extremist content, also address related phenomena such as misogynistic radicalisation and the algorithmic spread of hate.
Role of the Christchurch call
The platform aims to improve the understanding of gender-based hate in the digital space, particularly its links to violent extremism, and to define priorities and possible solutions to this growing problem, including the use of technology and artificial intelligence.
Involvement of the Council for Media Services
In the field of gender-based online hate, the Council for Media Services joined the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse at the end of 2022. The initiative was launched in the same year by the United States together with several partner countries. Although it is a separate initiative, its focus overlaps thematically with the Christchurch Call.