PURPOSE: The United Nations General Assembly designated the International Day on Countering Hate Speech; 18 June by the resolution A/RES/75/309. Hate speech is not only a denial of the essential values of the Organization, but it also undermines the UN Charter's very core principles and objectives, such as respect for human dignity, equality, and peace. 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.
FORUM: "Hate speech: Turning the tide." International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2023. Hatred, conspiracy theories and prejudice infiltrate our societies and affect all of us. We are flooded by information - and disinformation - more than ever before both on- and offline. But no one is born to hate. Hate is learned and can be unlearned. Education for all is the foundation. Learning to think critically about what we see and hear, create and share is essential. Providing learners with media and information literacy skills to challenge those who promote hatred. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #HateSpeech, #18june, #NotoHate, #CounteringHateSpeech.
EVENTS: To observe the International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2023, the United Nations invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and other initiatives to promote strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech.
At UNHQ - The High-level event to mark the 2nd International Day for Countering Hate Speech will be held on Monday, June 19th, 2023 from 11:00 - 1:00pm EDT (New York time) at the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chamber in New York. The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations will host a high-level event to highlight the champions of good practices on tackling hate speech from across the world.
At UNESCO - A hybrid event and panel discussions on how Online and offline, hate speech hurts, divides and affects communities worldwide. Is there a way to address its growing prevalence globally? And to what extent should preventive approaches be adapted regionally? The Regional Launch of Addressing hate speech through education: a guide for policy-makers will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 online from to 9:00am – 12:35pm at the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu, Nepal. Learn more about the event and watch live event!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Say No to hate speech. Refrain from making any hateful comments yourself and/or relaying such content. Whether online or offline, we should all act responsibly to stop the spread of hate and misinformation. Get the campaign materials!
PODCASTS: Develop strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech at the national and global levels.You can help raise awareness of hate speech online or offline simply by engaging with your family and friends in conversations about how hateful content can harm societies. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
Xenophobia, misogyny, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and intolerance are exponentially growing phenomena, amplified by information communication technologies and social media. Hate speech in all its many forms incites violence, sows discord, and threatens peace and stability around the world. Advancing human rights and fighting hate are at the heart of the Organization’s mission and the United Nations has the duty to confront the global issue of hate speech at every turn. The impact of hate speech cuts across numerous existing United Nations areas of focus, from human rights protection and prevention of atrocity crimes to sustaining peace and achieving gender equality and supporting children and youth.
ACTIONS
Mobilize the world against hatred of all kinds to defend human rights and advance the rule of law.
Enhance United Nations efforts to address the root causes and drivers of hate speech
Enable effective UN Responses to the impact of hate speech on societies
Follow the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech launched on 18 June 2019 is the first UN system-wide initiative designed to tackle hate speech. It provides an essential framework for how the Organization can support and complement States' efforts. The strategy emphasizes the need to counter hate holistically and with full respect for freedom of opinion and expression, while working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, media outlets, tech companies and social media platforms.
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Day of Countering Hate Speech is hosted by the United Nations Information Centres; The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism; The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA);The United Nations Peacekeeping; The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); The United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC); The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR); The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR); The UNODC Youth Initiative; The UN-Habitat Youth; The ECOSOC Youth Forum Assembly and the United Nations Youth.