Int’l Day for Countering Hate Speech being observed today

New York: International Day for Countering Hate Speech is being observed on Saturday.

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 purpose of the day is to counter discrimination, xenophobia, and hate speech and to address this phenomenon, in line with international human rights law.

On the occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that Hatred is a danger to everyone – and so fighting it must be a job for everyone.

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.