By Albert Wambura
There are few vices
that can chip away at the integrity of society like hate speech. It’s
dangerous and could threaten years of painstaking peace-building and even
national cohesion.
Hate speech is defined as any kind of communication in
speech, writing, or behaviour that criticizes or utilizes discriminating
terminology in relation to a person or a group on the basis of who they are,
such as their religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
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| The progress of the world depends on prevailing peace conditions |
Hate speech has been around for centuries but it has become
more prevalent in recent years with the rise of social media platforms such as
Facebook and Twitter. Over time some pockets of the internet have become toxic
to the emotional and mental health of their various users.
Hate speech has an influence on a variety of UN priorities,
including human rights protection and the prevention of atrocity crimes, as
well as maintaining peace, ensuring gender equality, and supporting children
and youth.
The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which was
launched on June 18, 2019, is a foundation for the International Day of
Countering Hate Speech. This is the first UN system-wide campaign to combat
hate speech, and it lays out a critical framework for how the UN may assist and
complement states’ efforts.
The plan highlights the importance of combating hate in a
holistic manner, while maintaining complete respect for freedom of opinion and
speech, while collaborating with essential stakeholders such as civil society
organizations, media outlets, technology companies, and social media platforms.
In July 2021, the United Nations General Assembly addressed
worldwide concerns about “the exponential expansion and multiplication of
hate speech” and adopted a resolution aimed at “supporting
inter-religious and intercultural discussion and tolerance in the fight against
hate speech.”
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| Hate speech must be shunned by all, with unity at our side |
The resolution acknowledges the importance of combating
discrimination, xenophobia, and hate speech, and calls on all relevant actors,
including States, to step up their efforts to address these issues in
accordance with international human rights law.
The resolution established 18 June as the inaugural
International Day for Countering Hate Speech, which will be observed in 2022.
The United Nations asks countries, international
organizations, civil society organizations, and individuals to hold activities
and projects to promote ways to recognize, address, and counter hate speech to
commemorate the Day. The President of the United Nations General Assembly has
called an informal High-Level Meeting to commemorate the inaugural
International Day, which will be held at the General Assembly Hall in New York
City on Monday, June 20, 2022, at 10 a.m. EDT (Eastern Time Zone), which is 5 PM local time
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