NZ, France launch Christchurch Call Foundation to combat extremist content online

The Christchurch Call was initiated in May 2019, following the devastating terror attacks in Christchurch, particularly impacting the Muslim community.

Today, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and French President Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment of the Christchurch Call Foundation, a new non-governmental organization dedicated to eradicating terrorist and violent extremist content online. This announcement follows the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, where leaders endorsed the creation of a resilient secretariat in preparation for the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch Call in May 2024.

The Christchurch Call was initiated in May 2019, following the devastating terror attacks in Christchurch, particularly impacting the Muslim community. Prime Minister Luxon expressed his gratitude to the Muslim community in Christchurch for their ongoing participation and contributions to the initiative.

President Macron highlighted the progress made since 2019, noting the global community's success in combating online extremism and its readiness to tackle new challenges, such as AI-generated content. He expressed confidence in the foundation's potential to strengthen the initiative moving forward.

Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, will continue to play a crucial role in this initiative as the Patron of the Christchurch Call. Prime Minister Luxon commended Dame Ardern for her leadership and advocacy, which have significantly contributed to mitigating violent extremism online.

The Christchurch Call Foundation has already begun to gather support, receiving pledges from members of the Call Community and philanthropic donors, indicating strong backing for its future activities.