Astralis and Amnesty International Denmark Want To Create a Safe Gaming Culture

August 30, 2021

•

Click for Danish

‍

Astralis and the human rights organization Amnesty International Denmark are collaborating to combat online hatred and abusive behavior and support a positive, inclusive gaming culture.

The gaming environment is generally positive, educational, and embracing. It is a social gathering place for many, especially young people who cultivate and find friendships across boundaries that otherwise are seen as limiting. However, as on social media, the tone is far too harsh in some areas, and too many gamers experience homophobia, racism, and abusive behavior. A problem we can and must change.

This is the message from Astralis and Amnesty International Denmark, which are now joining forces to support a safe gaming culture empowering children and young gamers to know their rights and speak out against hateful and abusiveness.

Jakob Lund Kristensen, co-founder and CRO at Astralis:

- Gaming engages the vast majority of young people worldwide while it also reaches a growing adult audience. It is all about sports, entertainment, socializing across boundaries, and learning, all of which we at Astralis work to support and develop, Jakob Lund Kristensen says.

Gaming has a problem when, for example, girls feel they have to play under a pseudonym to avoid sexism - Jakob Lund Kristensen

- However, gaming has a problem when, for example, girls feel they have to play under a pseudonym to avoid sexism when abusive, homophobic, or racist behavior is experienced online. In the same way, we experience it on social media, we see this in gaming, and we want to change that.

Gaming is for everybody. (Photo from Astralis Nexus)

- It is basically about respecting each other and everybody's rights. We believe that this collaboration between Astralis and Amnesty International Denmark focuses on contributing to positive development. We believe that together we can change perceptions of good and bad behavior, and step by step, contribute to making a positive difference, says Jakob Lund Kristensen.

Amnesty International Denmark also sees great potential in the new collaboration.

Dan Hindsgaul, Acting Secretary General of Amnesty Denmark:

We believe that esports can create a positive cultural change for our children and young people - Dan Hindsgaul

- We believe that esports can create a positive cultural change for our children and young people. We look forward to, together with Astralis, working towards an online culture where discrimination and hatred are unacceptable.

- We have seen how Astralis works with the positive aspects of esports and gaming and how their players can become role models for an entire esports world. Together with our efforts and experience, we can strengthen these efforts and the same effects, says Dan Hindsgaul.

The collaboration between Astralis and Amnesty International Denmark is aimed at children and young people aged 10 to 25 and their parents. It will include a training course for Astralis Talent and all employees at Astralis, who will implement the messages in the organization's set of values. Astralis will also help spread awareness of Amnesty's work in this area.

Last year, a U.S. study found that 42 percent of female gamers had experienced sexist behavior, 37 percent had experienced racist behavior, and 65 percent had experienced homophobic behavior. Amnesty International studies show that women are particularly vulnerable to online hate.