UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, issued a stark warning to the UN Security Council, stating that hate speech remains a significant threat to global peace and security. Nderitu stressed that hate speech not only incites violence but also perpetuates discrimination, stigma, dehumanization, and marginalization of vulnerable groups in society. “Violence does not start when physical attacks are launched. Violence often starts with words,” she noted. More details are available on the UN News platform.
Nderitu highlighted the troubling role social media plays in amplifying hate speech, making it easier for harmful rhetoric to reach vast audiences quickly, leading to offline violence. She pointed out that minorities, especially women, are prime targets for such vitriol.
This address was closely aligned with the recent adoption of Resolution 2686 by the UN, which calls for member states to actively condemn and prevent hate speech, xenophobia, and discrimination. This resolution marks a significant step as it directly addresses the persecution faced by minority groups in conflict settings, a point emphasized by the United Kingdom’s ambassador, James Kariuki.
The UN’s efforts to combat hate speech are part of a larger strategy, with the UN having launched its Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech in 2019. This strategy underscores the recognition that hate speech has been a precursor to atrocity crimes over the past 75 years. Nderitu emphasized that implementing this strategy is crucial and that it involves supporting national actors, including member states, to address the root causes of hate speech effectively. Read the full briefing on JURIST.