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International human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantees the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. Kyrgyzstan's constitution also guarantees freedom of speech and prohibits censorship, as stated in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Kyrgyzstan has ratified.

However, there is ongoing debate and concern about the spread of hate speech and disinformation on social media and its negative impact on society. While freedom of expression is a fundamental right, it is not an absolute right, and there are permissible limitations to it in certain circumstances, such as hate speech, incitement to violence, and advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence.

It is important for Kyrgyzstan and other countries to balance the protection of free speech with the need to combat hate speech and disinformation in a manner that is consistent with human rights standards and does not unduly restrict the right to free expression.

The Media Consult Foundation will conduct a study to assess the situation with hate speech and disinformation on Kyrgyzstan's social networks. The participants of the discussion meeting discussed the objectives and methodology of the study and formed a MAB Multistakeholder Advisory Board consisting of media executives, media experts, government representatives, and academicians on 21 February 2023 in Bishkek. The participants of the MAB were interested in the issue and cooperation for the research and confirmed their willingness to advise the researchers during the project to develop proposals to counteract "hate speech" and misinformation.

The event is held under the project "Combating Hate Speech and Information Pollution for Social Cohesion in Kyrgyzstan" with the support of UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic and UNESCO Almaty. The organisers would appreciate participation in the discussion of the draft methodology, taking into account professional experience and impact on the development of media and information environment in Kyrgyzstan.