Hate speech is on the rise
Hate speech is on the rise worldwide with the potential to incite violence, undermine social cohesion and tolerance, and cause psychological, emotional, and physical harm to those affected.
Hate speech not only affects the specific individuals and groups targeted, but societies at large.
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.
Background
In July 2021, the UN General Assembly highlighted global concerns over “the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech” around the world and adopted a resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”.
The resolution recognizes the need to counter discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech and calls on all relevant actors, including States, to increase their efforts to address this phenomenon, in line with international human rights law.
The resolution proclaimed 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, which will be marked for the first time in 2022.
To observe the Day, the United Nations invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and initiatives promoting strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech. The President of the General Assembly convened an informal High-level Meeting to mark the commemoration of the first International Day to take place Monday, 20 June 2022, at 10 a.m. EDT at the General Assembly Hall in New York City.
Whether as Member States the private sector, the media and internet corporations, faith leaders, educators, actors of civil society, those affected by hate speech, youth, or simply as an individual, we all have the moral duty of speaking out firmly against instances of hate speech and play a crucial role to in countering this scourge.
#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #DPCW #IPYG #IWPG #WARP_OFFICE #INTERNATIONAL_DAY #UN
#HATE_SPEECH
Thank you for this informative post. Your effort in educating about peace, in a world rife with conflict and tension, is more important now than ever before - thank you.
ReplyDeleteI do believe the solution to ending hate speech ultimately lies in the DPCW - a legal instrument that Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, a 92-year-old Korean War veteran, has conceived and garnered support for through 31 peace tours with politicians, Heads of State, religious leaders, academics and youth. It proposes a very convincing solution to ending all conflict. I believe that it will be enacted as international law and peace will come when it is presented to the UN in late 2022 or early 2023. Thanks again.