The Network of Disabled Persons' Organizations condemned yesterday the hate speech used against journalist Stenaldo Mëhilli, a visually impaired person, during the "Big Brother Albania VIP" program.
According to the organizations, the language used is unacceptable and constitutes a serious violation of the principles of equality and human dignity. “It constitutes ableism, a form of discrimination that stems from the premise that people with disabilities are less valuable than people without disabilities.”, said in their statement.
The organizations emphasized that this is also hate speech, as it not only harms the individual, but also the community of people with disabilities.
"Conveying the message that our lives are less worth living than those of others, especially considering the broad audience of this program", the organizations' statement further states.
They further emphasized that such language has historically been used to isolate and exclude people with disabilities, "preventing them from participating in society on an equal basis with others. It fuels stigma and prejudice."
He reacted the same way. Association of the Blind of Albania, who expressed that it is a dangerous message that violates human dignity and fuels prejudice against people with disabilities.
“The Albanian Association of the Blind (SHVSH) strongly condemns the language used against the blind competitor, Stenaldo Mëhilli, where blindness was labeled as a “punishment” or “curse” (“God has punished you / God has cursed you”),” the association expressed.
The network of organizations demanded that the production of "Big Brother Albania VIP" take measures to exclude participants who use hate speech, as well as the intervention of the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA).
According to Suela Lala, director of the "Së Bashku" Foundation, which advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, they will send an official complaint to the Audiovisual Media Authority and the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination within today to take administrative measures.
In a public reaction, The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination condemned the language used and called for increased attention in public broadcasting to prevent situations that lead to hate speech.
"The CPD also expresses concern about the prejudices and negative stereotypes that weigh especially on the most disadvantaged people, therefore it asks the Operator to guarantee that human dignity is not violated.", said the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination.
The Commissioner invited Top Channel television and the production of "Big Brother VIP" to analyze the format's protocols and create space for discussion on people with disabilities and their voices.
Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
