The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech was released on 18 June 2017. The Strategy focuses on the prevention, detection and repression of hate speech and other forms of violence, and calls upon all relevant actors to tackle the problem. It also declares 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech and requests organizers to hold a high-level meeting to commemorate this international day in 2022.
Publication
The publication of the Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech is an important step towards preventing and combating the spread of hate speech. Its goal is to enhance UN efforts to address the underlying causes of hate speech and its drivers. It is in line with the Secretary-General’s prevention agenda, which emphasizes early warnings and leverages preventive approaches to human rights. It is also intended to provide a framework for effective UN responses to hate speech’s negative impacts, such as the harm it causes to societies.
Background
The Background of United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action to Combat Hate Speech aims to protect minorities from the threat of hate speech and other violent expressions on the internet. The Strategy also calls for states to develop their own national action plans to combat the problem. These plans should address the underlying causes of hate speech and should be developed in consultation with affected communities. The EU has recently made significant strides in promoting equality. In particular, the EU Framework for Roma Inclusion aims to provide equal rights to Roma.
Scope
The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hats Speech highlights the need to address hate speech and its negative effects on society. The strategy calls for stronger advocacy, more research on hate speech, and a more coordinated response to it. It also calls for the UN Secretariat to support the work of its Resident Coordinators.
Implementation
The United Nations, as the only universal global organization, is uniquely positioned to tackle issues that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by one country acting alone. As such, hate speech has become a global challenge that threatens democratic values, tolerance, and social stability. And when it is not addressed, it can lead to tragedies and genocides. In light of these threats, the UN must take action now to stop the spreading of hate speech.
Lessons learnt
The United Nations has adopted a strategy to combat hate speech, which focuses on engaging relevant actors, strengthening advocacy and developing counter-narratives. However, the strategy must be aligned with the principle of freedom of expression. Hate speech is a serious issue that threatens to destroy social cohesion, undermines shared values and can even lead to violence.
Recommendations
The Recommendations for United Nations Strategy of Action on Hate Speech call for a coordinated effort to prevent hate speech, including online harassment. It calls for better data and research on hate speech, and it focuses on addressing the drivers and root causes of hate speech, including the conditions that promote or exacerbate it. The Strategy lays out 13 commitments to fight hate speech.
Conclusions
The Conclusions of the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hat e Speech make clear that the right to free expression is not an absolute. However, there is a connection between hate speech and mass violence, and it is important to take action to prevent hate speech. The International Criminal Law (ICL) has a potential to prevent mass violence, and expanding its coverage to include hate speech would prove especially effective.https://www.youtube.com/embed/72qH5y8Kg5A
