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Hate speech ‘dehumanizes individuals and communities’: Guterres – Global issues

“It promotes racism, xenophobia and deviance; it dehumanizes individuals and communities; and it has a serious impact on our efforts to promote peace and security, human rights and sustainable development,” Secretary General António Guterres.

Dangerous word

He explained that words can be weaponized and cause physical harm.

The escalation from hate speech to violence, he said, has played a role in some of the most gruesome and tragic crimes of the modern era, from anti-Semitism to mass murder. The Tutsis genocide in Rwanda in 1994, he said.

The UN chief added: “The internet and social media have fueled hate speech, enabling it to spread like wildfire across borders.

Fight back

The spread of hate speech against minorities in COVID-19 The pandemic has revealed that many societies are very vulnerable to stigma, discrimination and the conspiracies it promotes.

In response to this growing threat, three years ago Mr. Guterres launched the UN Hate speech strategy and action plan – a new framework to assist Member States in combating the scourge, while also managing to respect freedom of expression and opinion.

It is made possible in partnership with civil society, media, technology companies and social media platforms.

And last year, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for intercultural and interreligious dialogue to combat hate speech – and declared it International Day.

Hate speech is a danger to everyone and fighting it is everyone’s job“The head of the United Nations said.

“The first International Day Against Hate Speech was Call to action. Let us persist in doing everything in our power to prevent and end hate speech by promoting respect for diversity and inclusion.”

Hate fuels hostility

In a sign that the phenomenon is becoming a growing problem, United Nations rights curator Michelle Bachelet and United Nations Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, presented expressed their “deep alarm” on Friday about hate speech fueling violence against civilians. , during prolonged clashes between the M23 rebel group and Government forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Two top officials called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians.

We urge all parties to respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Senior United Nations officials point to hate speech and “inciting discrimination, hostility or nationwide violence” – which specifically targets Kinyarwanda speakers – as a factor important factor, as the DRC Government has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23.

Hate speech fuels conflict by exacerbating mistrust between communities,” they said.

“It focuses on aspects that were previously less important, inciting ‘us versus them’ discourse and eroding social cohesion between communities that previously lived together.”

Sowing hatred

To date, the United Nations has recorded eight cases of hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and it has been spread by political party figures, community leaders, civil society organisations, as well as the Congolese community.

“Times of heightened political tension and armed conflict tend to correlate with increased use of hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,” two top officials said. clearly stated.

“Hate messages increase the risk of violence, including brutal crimes against specific groups of people [and] should be condemned and restrained by the highest national authorities. ”

Both women encouraged Congress to move forward with the passage of a “racism, xenophobia and tribalism” bill that strengthens the legal framework to address and combat hate speech.

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