108 Hate Speech Ignited: Understanding Hate Speech in Myanmar L ocal civil society groups in Myanmar have already taken a range of steps to monitor, document, and counter the rise of hate speech and ultranationalism, often at great risk to themselves.752 Those in Myanmar and international actors must support these efforts so that hate speech does not continue to spark violence and persecution. This part provides recommendations, targeted at a variety of actors, that are designed to reduce and curb the effects of hate speech. These recommendations also seek to address the closing civil society space in Myanmar. The recommendations call in general for ending impunity, strengthening institutions, including the judiciary, repealing oppressive laws, prioritizing and promoting policies that counter hate and encourage diversity and tolerance, and increasing people’s digital literacy. With concerted action and cooperation among actors, the country can course correct, and transform itself into a genuine rights-respecting democracy. To the Myanmar Government End Impunity and Protect Freedom of Expression „ Prosecute state and non-state perpetrators that incite violence against ethnic and religious minorities; „ End selective application of laws that chill speech and silence CSOs, HRDs, and the media, including dropping all charges against and releasing HRDs, activists, journalists, students, and other political prisoners that have been convicted under Myanmar’s laws criminalizing freedom of expression; „ Disband the current government run social media monitoring team and form a third-party independent monitoring team with the participation of independent civil society actors, to counter hate speech, while preserving legitimate online expression and privacy rights, allowing public access to and accountability for monitoring projects; „ Regulate corporations that may be contributing to hate speech or its dissemination; „ Promote and resource policy initiatives consistent with human rights frameworks, such as the Rabat Plan of Action to combat hate speech, including education, intracultural dialogue, condemnation of incidents of hate, and creating a healthy media environment; „ Cooperate with various international accountability mechanisms; and „ Protect ethnic and religious minority civilians and end grave human rights violations and atrocities. Law Reform „ Amend or repeal laws that restrict freedom of expression to be consistent with human rights standards, including but not limited to the Telecommunications Law, the News Media Law, 752 the Printing and Publication Law, the Electronic Transactions Law, the Peaceful Assembly and See Search for Common Ground, Myanmar Impact Toolkit: Monitoring and Evaluating Counter Hate Speech Initiatives (2018), https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CFCG_Myanmar_Impact_Toolkit-English_version.pdf.