UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, issued a stern warning against hate speech, saying that stigma and discrimination have been ignited by social media and the Internet. The UN chief delivered a message for the first time to oppose international hate speech, saying hate speech incites violence, hinders diversity and social cohesion, and “threatening the shared values and principles that hold us together.” bind,” according to the United Nations news report.
Hate speech incites violence, undermines social cohesion and threatens the values that bind us together.
this first #NoToHate Speech Day is a call to do everything in our power to prevent and end hate speech by promoting respect for diversity and inclusivity. pic.twitter.com/RBGqqbUYPQ
— Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) 18 June 2022
Guterres said hate speech encourages “racism, xenophobia and misogyny” and it also dehumanizes people and communities and undermines measures to promote “peace and security, human rights and sustainable development”. “The Internet and social media have intensified hate speech, causing it to spread like wildfire across borders,” the UN chief added. United Nations News informed of.
The UN chief went on to say that words can be weaponized and used to cause bodily harm. He explained that from anti-Semitic sentiment to the 1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda, hate speech has turned into violence, which has played a significant role in the most heinous and devastating crimes of modern times.
‘Hate speech is a threat to all and it is everyone’s job to fight it’
according to United Nations News In the report, the development of anti-minority hate speech during the COVID-19 outbreak revealed that many communities are deeply affected by stigma, discrimination, as well as the conspiracies that promote it. Antonio Guterres also said “hate speech is a threat to all and fighting it is a task for all”.
On the first International Day to Combat Hate Speech, the UN chief urged action. He emphasized renewing the commitment to do everything possible to prevent and prevent hate speech by encouraging diversity and tolerance.
In addition, to counter the growing threat, Guterres three years ago developed the United Nations Strategy and Action Plan on Hate Speech, a new program that facilitates member states to combat the problem while still maintaining expression and Respects freedom of opinion. This was done in partnership with civil society, the media, tech firms and social media platforms.
Last year, the United Nations General Assembly issued a resolution emphasizing intercultural and inter-religious dialogue to combat hate speech and established an International Day of Hate Speech.
In addition, on Friday, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet and the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nederitu, voiced their “deep alarm” over hate speech, a long-running issue among the M23 rebel group. Confrontation is promoting violence against civilians. as government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Both senior officials demanded an immediate stop to the escalation of attacks on civilians. He warned that hate speech breeds mistrust in communities, encourages violence.
