International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2023: Significance
The International Day for Countering Hate Speech holds great importance as it acknowledges the destructive impact of hate speech and demonstrates a collective commitment to addressing this global problem.
With the rapid advancements in communication technologies, hate speech has gained wider reach and influence. The day carries significant weight in recognizing the pressing need to tackle this escalating issue. The United Nations has consistently mobilized efforts to confront all forms of hatred. Through advocating for human rights, upholding the rule of law, and striving for equality and peace, the UN is dedicated to countering hate speech on every front.
The International Day for Countering Hate Speech provides a platform to raise awareness and promote strategies that prevent the spread of hate speech. It also serves as a reminder of the detrimental consequences it brings and underscores the UN’s unwavering dedication to human rights and inclusivity.
International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2023: History
The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is a significant global initiative designed to address the alarming surge of hate speech worldwide. In July 2021, the United Nations General Assembly underscored the urgent necessity to combat hate speech and adopted a resolution emphasizing the importance of fostering inter-religious and intercultural dialogue as a means to counter this phenomenon.
The resolution acknowledges that discrimination and hate speech present substantial threats to human rights and social cohesion. It urges all relevant parties, including governments, to enhance their efforts in countering hate speech while upholding international human rights law.
This important day builds upon the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which was launched on June 18, 2019. In observance of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, the United Nations encourages governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to arrange events and initiatives that promote strategies for identifying, addressing, and combating hate speech.
Hate speech: Turning the tide
The devastating effect of hatred is sadly nothing new. However, its scale and impact are amplified today by new technologies of communication, so much so that hate speech, has become one of the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale. If left unchecked, hate speech can even harm peace and development, as it lays the ground for conflicts and tensions, wide scale human rights violations.
The United Nations has a long history of mobilizing the world against hatred of all kinds to defend human rights and advance the rule of law. The impact of hate speech cuts across numerous UN areas of focus, from protecting human rights and preventing atrocities to sustaining peace, achieving gender equality and supporting children and youth.
In response to the alarming trends of growing xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred around the world, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech on 18 June 2019.
The Plan of Action defines hate speech as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are -- in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.
However, to date there is no universal definition of hate speech under international human rights law. The concept is still under discussion, especially in relation to freedom of opinion and expression, non-discrimination and equality.
Online hate speech might seem like an unstoppable tide, but strategies are being employed by governments, civil society, and individuals, to fight back.
Source: www.un.org.
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