Go to Change.org to sign the petition!!Over 135,000 people join a campaign to help ban pages promoting sexual violence against women on social networking site Facebook.
‘Demand Facebook Remove Pages That Promote Sexual Violence is a petition on Change.org that aims to force Facebook to remove pages from the site which may encourage sexual violence.
In San Francisco, California on Monday September 19, Director of Organizing for Women’s Rights, Shelby Knox, released a press statement stating that the campaign had already gained over 135,000 signatures for the petition in 77 countries.
There are a number of Facebook groups which seem to advocate the use of sexually violent language. One such group is called: “Raping your mate’s girlfriend to see if she can put up a fight.” Whilst it may be argued that the language used in these group pages comes under freedom of speech, campaigners have said that these groups are cases of hate speech, and under the site’s terms of service, Facebook states that: “Hate speech and incitements to violence are prohibited and will be banned.”
Activist John Raines launched the campaign three months ago, and hit 100,000 signatures by the 73rd day. Mr Raines and other activists following in his example are planning to further the campaign by asking supporters to post links on their Facebook profiles in order to promote the petition.
Mr Raines claims that he decided to launch the campaign because he has seen the “scars of physical and mental violence” and many pages demonstrate a lack of consideration for women.
“I started this campaign because a friend once told me there is a big difference between free speech and hate speech. Hate speech is never free – it comes at a heavy price for its victims, said Mr Raines.
The campaign on Change.org allows members to sign the petition, and express their own thoughts on the ban. One member stated that these groups should be banned and that “allowing it is complicity in felony”.
The organisers of the petition hope that with enough signatures and support, Facebook will send out a message that any pages or groups created which appear to promote sexual violence will not be tolerated on the social networking site.
Regina Yau is the founder and president of the Pixel Project, a non profit organisation that uses online strategies to raise awareness of violence against women. Ms Yau told The Fresh Outlook, that as far as they are aware, Facebook has not yet responded to the petition and believes that they will not respond until the petition has caused “too big a commotion for them to continue ignoring it”.
“Realistically speaking, Facebook can’t prevent such groups and pages from being created in the first place,” Ms Yau said. “Facebook has previously said that hate speech and inciting violence will be banned. Now is the time to show that they will put their money where their mouth is.”
By Bethan Hâf Marsh
[Image courtesy of Sean Mac Entee]
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