Hate speech is ‘first step down the path of dehumanisation’
Hate speech is first step down – In an era where digital spaces increasingly shape societal norms and interactions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of hate speech. He emphasized that while freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic societies, it must not be weaponized to marginalize vulnerable communities. As online platforms intensify the spread of real-world violence against marginalized groups, Guterres stressed the importance of safeguarding discourse from harmful narratives that dehumanize individuals and foster division.
“Hate speech is the first step down the path of dehumanisation,” declared Mr. Guterres in his message marking the 2026 International Day for Countering Hate Speech. This statement underscores the UN’s commitment to addressing the roots of intolerance and ensuring that speech serves as a tool for unity rather than a weapon of prejudice.
The Secretary-General highlighted how hate speech functions as a “tool of division,” targeting specific communities such as women, migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. These groups, often already facing systemic challenges, become focal points for discriminatory rhetoric that is frequently amplified for political advantage. Guterres argued that such speech not only fuels hostility but also sets the stage for more severe forms of violence and systemic oppression.
“In our digital age, hate speech spreads faster than ever, amplified by unregulated platforms and intensified by artificial intelligence,” he continued. This acceleration, he warned, is driven by algorithms that reward outrage and division, incentivizing the spread of misinformation and promoting content that incites conflict. The anonymity of online spaces further complicates accountability, allowing perpetrators to evade consequences with relative ease.
UN-Women’s Kalliopi Mingeirou, head of the Ending Violence against Women Section in New York, expanded on the role of technology in perpetuating harmful ideologies. She noted that rapid advancements in digital tools have created new avenues for the dissemination of conservative and retrograde views about women. These perspectives, she explained, are often embedded in content that normalizes misogyny and challenges gender equality, making them more pervasive than ever.
“The manosphere is not a single website or community,” she said. “It is a wider ecosystem of algorithm-driven content that can spread misogyny and opposition to gender equality and women’s rights very quickly, and makes it seem pretty normal or acceptable.” Mingeirou pointed to the growing use of synthetic media, such as deepfakes and sexualized images, as a means of amplifying hatred against women. These tools, she argued, enable abusers to create and share misleading content with unprecedented speed and accessibility.
Mingeirou clarified that while artificial intelligence itself does not generate misogyny, it plays a critical role in its propagation. She highlighted how AI-driven platforms allow the rapid creation of deepfakes, sexualized synthetic images, and impersonation content, all of which contribute to the erosion of women’s rights and the reinforcement of stereotypes. This technological facilitation, she said, has transformed the landscape of hate speech, making it more potent and harder to counter.
Building on this, the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, launched by Guterres in 2019, aims to unify efforts across the global organization to combat harmful speech. The initiative seeks to identify and address the sources of hate while upholding international human rights standards. Guterres has consistently maintained that freedom of expression should not be used as a shield for damaging messages, advocating instead for a balanced approach that protects both speech and dignity.
“Freedom of expression,” he says, “must never be an excuse for harmful messages.” This principle aligns with the broader goal of the strategy, which emphasizes the need to distinguish between legitimate discourse and speech that incites violence or prejudice. By coordinating global actions, the UN aims to create a more inclusive and equitable digital environment.
Complementing these efforts, the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity offer a forward-looking framework to reshape the flow of information. The principles propose a world where media influence is not concentrated in the hands of a few powerful corporations, but rather distributed across diverse voices and platforms. This shift, according to the UN, would empower individuals to take greater control over their media consumption and the use of their personal data.
Events to Mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech
The UN is organizing a series of events to highlight the importance of combating hate speech and its societal impacts. These initiatives, spanning June 17 to 19, focus on different aspects of the issue, from historical injustices to modern-day challenges. Each event aims to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and promote actionable solutions.
On June 17, the session “Breaking the cycle of hate: the Rights and Voices of Roma in Europe” will examine the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by the Roma community. This event will also shed light on the atrocities committed against Roma during the Second World War, emphasizing the need for collective action to address systemic inequities.
The following day, June 18, the event “The power of partnerships in countering hate speech” will explore the importance of collaboration between governments, civil society, and technology companies. It will focus on practical tools and strategies for mitigating the spread of hate, with an emphasis on coalition-building and shared responsibility.
On June 19, the virtual dialogue “Art Remembers: Culture as Witness and Prevention” will bring together artists and experts to discuss how creative expression can preserve memory and inspire justice. The event will highlight art’s role in documenting atrocities such as the Holocaust, the transatlantic slave trade, the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the Srebrenica genocide. By integrating cultural narratives with contemporary issues, the UN hopes to foster empathy and understanding.
Together, these events reflect the UN’s multifaceted approach to addressing hate speech. From empowering marginalized voices to leveraging technology for good, the organization is working to ensure that digital spaces remain spaces of connection and not of conflict. As Guterres and Mingeirou have both stressed, the fight against hate speech is not just about words—it is about shaping a future where all individuals can thrive without fear of dehumanization.
