UN chief launches global push against hate speech
- Antonio Guterres targeted critics of a controversial migrant agreement, claiming criticism of the deal ‘insidious’ and based on ‘lies’
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday launched a new global strategy to combat whatever the global body considers hate speech, a growing scourge he said “poisoned” debate on crucial issues.
Guterres announced the effort, which will be led by his special adviser on genocide prevention Adama Dieng, at the UN Human Rights Council.
“Hate is moving into the mainstream – in liberal democracies and authoritarian systems alike,” he insisted in a speech at the opening of the council’s 40th session.
“Some major political parties and leaders are cutting and pasting ideas from the fringes into their own propaganda and electoral campaigns,” he said.
Governments across the world have watched with concern as comments some consider racist or hate speech have coarsened the political climate.
Guterres targeted his rebuke at widespread criticism of the UN’s Global Compact on Migration, a non-binding text that is said to set out best practices for managing refugee and migrant flows.
