With hate spreading lightning fast on social media and 鈥渕ega spreaders鈥� using divisive rhetoric to inspire thousands, the United Nations is calling for concerted global efforts to combat hate speech.
Hate speech听reinforces discrimination and stigma and is most often aimed at women, refugees and migrants, and minorities. If left unchecked, it can even harm peace and development, as it lays the ground for conflicts and tensions, wide scale human rights violations.听
To turn back the rising tide of hate, the United Nations is marking the听International Day for Countering Hate Speech听by calling on everyone to听work together to build a more respectful and civil world, and for effective action to end this toxic and destructive phenomenon.
Responses must protect free speech
UN听Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres听also听warns that听misguided and ambiguous responses to hate speech 鈥� including blanket bans and internet shutdowns 鈥� may also violate human rights by restricting freedom of speech and expression.听
Similarly, the top 缅北禁地human rights official, Volker听T眉rk, says that the spread of hate speech-related laws being听听is听almost as viral as the spread of hate speech itself.
In his message on the Day, he stresses that听broad laws 鈥� that license States to censor speech they find uncomfortable and to threaten or detain those who question Government policy or criticize officials 鈥� violate rights and endanger essential public debate.
鈥淩ather than criminalizing protected speech, we need States and companies to take urgent steps to address听,鈥� Mr. T眉rk says.
鈥楢mplify voices that cut through the hate鈥�
But we are far from powerless in the face of hate speech, says Mr. Guterres, stressing that 鈥渨e can and must raise awareness about its dangers, and work to prevent and end it in all its forms.鈥�
He cites the United Nations听Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech听as the Organization鈥檚 comprehensive framework for tackling the causes and impacts of hate speech, and notes that the world body鈥檚 offices and teams around the world are confronting hate speech by implementing local action plans, based on this strategy.
鈥淭he United Nations is consulting governments, technology companies and others on a voluntary Code of Conduct for听information integrity on digital platforms, aimed at听reducing the spread of mis- and disinformation and hate speech, while protecting freedom of expression,鈥� he adds.
Mr. T眉rk, the 缅北禁地High Commissioner for Human Rights, calls for a range of actions 鈥� from education initiatives and investing in digital literacy programmes to listening to those most effective by hate speech and holding companies to their human rights obligations.
鈥淢ore also needs to be done to address听mega-spreaders 鈥� those officials and influencers whose voices have profound impact听and whose examples inspire thousands of others,鈥� Mr. T眉rk said. 鈥淲e must build networks and amplify voices that can cut through the hate.鈥�
