Nearly eight decades after the UN Charter's inception, addressing and combatting hate speech remains vital for preserving peace and unity. In our increasingly polarized world, hate speech continues to surge both on and offline. Tackling it is crucial in maintaining social cohesion and upholding human rights.
To help empower teachers and educators in preventing and protecting youth from harmful speech, UNESCO Campus brought together four speakers whose expertise ranged from education, youth development, human rights, and peacebuilding. Their vibrant discussion, enriched by contributions from teachers and educators around the globe, resulted in a compilation of pedagogical tools designed to address and counter hate speech in educational settings.
Education plays a pivotal role in countering hate speech, especially among youth. Kuany Kiir Kuany, a Project Officer in the Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education at UNESCO, remarked that education's role can sometimes be "double-edged". While it can be a potent force for good, it can also be misused to perpetuate harmful narratives and reinforce systemic inequalities. Transformative education, with global citizenship education at its centre, can provide useful tools that educators can use when addressing hate speech. Only when education becomes introspective and self-critical can it truly champion peace and counter hate speech globally. It can play this role by ensuring inclusive access to learning, avoiding the reinforcement of systemic injustices, and bolstering the defenses of peace like critical thinking, social, emotional and behavioural skills. Teachers and educators are vital in this endeavor. Kuany Kiir Kuany also remarked that education’s role should also be seen in concert with other UNESCO sectors, such as the Communication and Information Sector, which promotes media and information literacy, safeguards international standards, and ensures freedom of expression.
[…] as teachers we should hammer more on the importance of instilling in our students' skills for knowing and caring for others; like effective communication, empathy, cooperation and team building.
However, a challenge remains: defining hate speech. While there is no universally accepted definition, as underscored by Fatou Jagne Senghor, a Gambian jurist and advocate for human rights, women’s rights, and social justice, the offers a working definition. It describes hate speech as “any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.” Fatou Jagne Senghor further stressed the devastating impact of hate speech, and how it has the ability to limit the freedom of expression of certain groups like vulnerable people, minorities, and disadvantaged communities.
Hate speech dehumanizes and deepens divisions among individuals and groups.
Its manifestations can range from verbal slurs to hateful imagery. Regardless of the definition, the harmful consequences of hate speech are undeniable, often silencing and marginalizing vulnerable and minority groups.
As digital platforms amplify the reach of hate speech, young people are increasingly at risk. Offline settings, such as classrooms, are not immune either. Hate speech can manifest subtly as microaggressions or more overtly through rumors and symbols, highlighted Sameen Zehra, Youth Civic Action Coordinator at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Teachers are at the forefront, often grappling with how to address instances of hate speech between students. Some suggested strategies include fostering open dialogue, staying updated on current trends, and debunking existing biases.
There are ways to disagree in a peaceful way.
Digital content, especially social media platforms, can exacerbate the problem. However, as underscored by Debby Karemera, Strategic and Technical Advisor at Never Again Rwanda, the same platforms can also foster dialogue and understanding. The key lies in promoting critical thinking skills, enabling students to analyze and critique the content they encounter.
As educators voiced their concerns about biases and hate speech, all experts echoed a common sentiment: the importance of active teacher involvement. By encouraging students to critically assess the various forms of hate speech they come across, educators can play a transformative role.
This event was realized with the support of Tech4All and the collaboration of 6C-Conseil.
