Hate speech is on the rise around the world.
Combating incitement to hatred and hate crime
“Hate speech is behavior that incites violence, undermines diversity and social cohesion, and threatens the common values and principles that bind us.”
A hate crime is a criminal offense motivated, in whole or in part, by the perpetrator’s bias against a person or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation and identity.
Incitement to racial hatred constitutes a significant source of dangers threatening humanity.
It constitutes a direct threat to human rights. It is increasingly present online and offline and not only undermines individuals’ fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms but also degrades and marginalizes targeted individuals and groups.
Some international bodies and the media played a role in fueling this chronic scourge, and some extremist political parties and movements also played a more dangerous role in direct political discourse, which threatened an increase in violence and hate crimes.
Therefore, many international instruments have been keen to prohibit incitement to hatred in various aspects. Hate crimes can have significant and wide-ranging psychological consequences, not only for their direct victims but for others as well.
We at the Global Shield Organization affirm the harsher punishment and commitment to the Hate Crime Law, which aims to deter violence motivated by bias, stress the international community’s condemnation of speech inciting racist hatred, and affirm respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. All forms of hate and intolerance contradict these fundamental rights and values.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted by the UN General Assembly, prohibits “propaganda” and “dissemination of ideas” about racial superiority and racial discrimination, including by public authorities or public institutions (Article 4). States are obligated to take measures to prevent it and punish its perpetrators.
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted in 1998, holds “criminal responsibility and punishes” every person who “directly and publicly incites others to commit genocide” (Article 25). This is stipulated in international conventions, so many instruments have been taken care of to
International prohibition of incitement to hatred in its various aspects,
“Tackling hate speech does not mean restricting or prohibiting freedom of expression. Rather, it means preventing the escalation of hate speech from turning into something more dangerous, especially incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence, which is prohibited under international law.”
If you are exposed to a hate incident, you must report it. Contact local law enforcement authorities and provide them with detailed information.
As some speeches by politicians, officials, and media figures amount to “incitement to a hate crime,” those responsible must be punished or resort to the International Court of Justice by the interpretation of the provisions of the Convention.
. The International Court for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, or resorting to this court also through the United Nations General Assembly.
