International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2022: The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is observed on June 18.

Key Points:

• This day is observed to highlight the need for combating hate speech and promoting tolerance and dialogue between different communities.
• According to the UN, hate speech is any kind of speech or writing that attacks or discriminates against a person or a group based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, descent, gender, race, color, or any other identity factor.
• This year marks the first time the day will be observed.

Theme:

The first International Day of Countering Hate Speech was observed under the theme “Role of education to address the root causes of hate speech and advance inclusion, non-discrimination, and peace”.

History:

• In July 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”.
• The global body also drew attention to concerns over the proliferation of hate speech all around the globe.
• The resolution recognizes the need to counter discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech.
• UNGA further called on all relevant actors, including States, to increase their efforts to address this phenomenon, in line with international human rights law.
• It declared June 18 as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

Significance:

• This day is significant for countering hate speech as hate speech goes against the core principles of the UN Charter such as equality, peace, and respect for human dignity.
• It has the ability to undermine social cohesiveness and tolerance, as well as produce violence and conflict, as well as physical, emotional, and psychological suffering to those impacted.
• The catastrophic impact of the phenomenon has been further compounded by social media and other forms of communication.
• Hate speech, if allowed uncontrolled, can result in widespread human rights violations, escalate conflicts, and destabilize peace and development efforts.
• The escalation from hate speech to violence has had a major role in the most horrific crimes of the modern world, from the antisemitism driving the Holocaust, to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Background:

• This initiative which was started in 2019, builds upon the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.
• It emphasizes the "need to combat hate in a comprehensive manner while maintaining complete respect for freedom of expression and opinion."
• It also provides a framework for the global body to complement states in resolving this issue.