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 and Artificial Intelligence nexus." International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2025. The 4th observance serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to address this issue. It marks also the six-year since the launch of the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, highlighting the ongoing commitment to this cause. Words have power - let’s use them to build bridges, not walls. On this Day, and every day, Let’s choose kindness over hate. Hate speech divides. Respect unites. We need to choose words that heal, not harm. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #HateSpeech, #18june, #NotoHate, #CounteringHateSpeech.
EVENTS: On Thursday, June 19th, 2025 from 11:00 - 1:00 pm EDT (New York time) at the United Nations ECOSOC Chamber in New York. The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, the Human Rights Center of the University of Essex and the Garden or the Righteous Worldwide,will host a high-level event to observe the International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2025, 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. This year will mark the 4th International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The High-Level Event will figure experts and practitioners in the field of coalition-building on countering hate speech who will present lessons learned and best practices. It will include speakers from the United Nations, tech and social media companies, community-based organizations and academia. The Objectives are to:
Bring further attention to the importance of tackling hate speech, in all its forms and manifestations.
Highlight the important role of youth in countering and addressing hate speech.
Hear from youth voices on their experience, concerns, and recommendations on what more needs to be done to tackling hate speech.
Read the agenda programme and watch the livestream!
PUBLICATIONS: A Feature-Based Approach to Assess Hate Speech in User Comments. Hate speech in user comments is a serious challenge for media actors, platforms, legal authorities, and the general public alike. This form of communication can impair the quality of online discussions, but also poison public discourse and civic life - Different Understandings in the Study of Hate Speech - What is Hate Speech? - The Study of Online Hate Speech in Different Research Disciplines -Hate Speech in Computer Science Research - Hate Speech in Social Sciences and Humanities -Conceptualization of Hate Speech: A Feature-Based Approach - Features of Hate Speech - Advantages of a Feature-based Approach.
The Future of Free Speech, Trolls, Anonymity and Fake News Online - Many experts fear uncivil and manipulative behaviors on the internet will persist – and may get worse. This will lead to a splintering of social media into AI-patrolled and regulated ‘safe spaces’ separated from free-for-all zones. Some worry this will hurt the open exchange of ideas and compromise privacy.
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2025; June 19th.
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.