UNITED NATIONS UNVEILS PLAN OF ACTION AGAINST HATE SPEECH
The Scribe added that, in addition to this,’ we are developing an Action Plan for the UN to be fully engaged in efforts to support safeguard religious sites and ensure the safety of houses of worship’, stressing that, ‘to those who insist on using fear to divide communities, we must say: diversity is a richness, never a threat’.
‘That is why I have launched two United Nations initiatives in response. First, I have just unveiled a Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech to coordinate efforts across the whole United Nations system, addressing the root causes and making our response more effective’. ‘Second, we are developing an Action Plan for the UN to be fully engaged in efforts to support safeguard religious sites and ensure the safety of houses of worship. To those who insist on using fear to divide communities, we must say: diversity is richness, never a threat’.
Penpushing further reports that Guterres, noted that a deep and sustained spirit of mutual respect and receptivity can transcend posts and tweets fired off in a split second, stating that, we must never forget, after all, that each of us is an “other” to someone, somewhere. There can be no illusion of safety when hate is widespread’.
‘As part of one humanity, it is our duty to look after each other. Of course, all action aimed at addressing and confronting hate speech must be consistent with fundamental human rights. Addressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech’.
‘It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous, particularly incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, which is prohibited under international law. We need to treat hate speech as we treat every malicious act: by condemning it, refusing to amplify it, countering it with the truth, and encouraging the perpetrators to change their behaviour’. He emphasized, ’now is the time to step up to stamp out anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred, persecution of Christians and all other forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. Governments, civil society, the private sector and the media all have important roles to play. Political and religious leaders have a special responsibility to promote peaceful coexistence’. ‘Hatred is a danger to everyone – and so fighting it must be a job for everyone. Together, we can put out the wildfire of hate and uphold the values that bind us together as a single human family. I fear that the world is reaching another acute moment in battling the demon of hate’,Guterres said
