Monday, June 16: U.N. Day for Countering Hate Speech

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International Day for Countering Hate Speech

Hate Speech and Artificial Intelligence Nexus

Monday, June 16, 2025

United Nations Headquarters

New York, NY

The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations and the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide marks the 4th High-Level event for Countering Hate Speech highlighting the importance of using Artificial Intelligence to Counter Hate Speech

Date: Monday, 16 June 2024

Time: 10:00 - 1:00pm EDT (New York time)

Place: ECOSOC Conference Room 5 • United Nations, New York

10:00 - 11:00 AM: Opening

• UN Secretary-General (represented by SRSG Gamba)

• President of the General Assembly (represented by Mr. Ivor Fung, Chef de Cabinet,

Office of the President of the General Assembly)

• H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN

• USG Virginia Gamba, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide a.i

• H.E. Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative of the Alliance of Civilisations

• USG Melissa Fleming, Global Communications

• USG Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies

(video message)

• H.E. Mr. Adama Dieng, Special Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide, Africa Union

(video message)

• ASG Felipe Paullier, Youth Affairs

Moderated by SRSG Gamba, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide a.i.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Session I “Decoding the Future: Beyond Prompts and Algorithms”

• Dr. Abdelaltif Bencherifa, Dean, College of the Humanities, Political & Social Sciences;

Head, Public Policy Centre, International University of Rabat

• Dr. Gregory Stanton, Founder and Chairman, Genocide Watch

• Mr. David Greene, Civil Liberties Director and Senior Staff Attorney, Electronic

Frontier Foundation

• Ms. Theresa Rajah, Director of Online Violence Prevention, Moonshot (virtual)

• Ms. Gabrielle Guillemin, Human Rights Manager, Expression and Standards Lead,

META (virtual)

• Ms. Eliška Pírková, Senior Policy Analyst and Global Freedom of Expression Lead,

Access Now (virtual)

Moderated by Mrs. Hanaa Bouchikhi, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the

Kingdom of Morocco to the UN

12.00 PM – 1.00 PM:

Member States’ Statements from the floor

Moderated by H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of

Morocco to the UN

Illustration of a person screaming with bullets flying out of the mouth as a metaphor for hate speech and aggression. [credit: Stockfoto / Getty Images]

Day 2: Wednesday, 18 June 2024

Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm EDT (New York time)

Place: ECOSOC Conference Room 11 • United Nations, New York

3.00-3.15 Welcome by KoM representative

Opening remarks by SRSG Gamba

3:15 - 4:20 PM

Panel 2: "Together We Are Stronger: Partnership Against Hate Speech"

• Mr. Mohammed El Sanousi, Executive Director, Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

• Ms. Beatrice Mutali, UN Resident Coordinator in Zambia

• Ms. Martina Landi, General Manger, GARIWO Foundation

• Ms. Khalida Popal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Girl Power Organization

• Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, Professor, Essex University Human Rights Centre

• Ms. Dahlia Fahmy, Associate Professor, Long Island University

• Ms. Nazila Ghanea, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Moderated by Ms. Simona Cruciani, OSAPG

4.30 PM – 4.45 PM: Closing remarks by SA OSAPOG

Can hate speech ignite genocide?

Where Does It Start?

UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Nderitu. click on image to watch video.

UN Special Adviser Alice Nderitu on hate speech: click on image to watch video

Why tackle hate speech?

Since the spread of hateful rhetoric can be an early warning of violence – including atrocity crimes – limiting hate speech could contribute to mitigating its impact.

How to deal with hate speech

It can sometimes be hard to assess when a comment is meant as hate speech – especially when expressed in the virtual world. It can also feel overwhelming to try to deal with obviously hateful content. However, there are many ways you can take a stand, even if you are not personally the victim of hate speech. And you can make a difference.

Read more about the #NoToHate campaign by downloading our fact sheets. Use them to educate yourself, or in the classroom.

The Mothers of Srebrenica

The Srebrenica genocide is considered the largest atrocity in Europe since World War II. In 1996, some survivors of the genocide and families of the missing founded “The Mothers of Srebrenica and Žepa”, an activist association representing 6,000 survivors who lost family members in the genocide.

The preventive role of education

Addressing hateful rhetoric, whether online or in real life, comes easier when one is equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to identify and counteract hate speech. The United Nations campaign #NoToHate offers insights on how to learn and share knowledge on issues related to tackling hate speech. Learn more

Resources

• Resolution on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech

• UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech

• Countering hate speech through sports

• Countering hate speech through education

• Countering disinformation

• Rabat Plan of Action

• Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes

• Plan of Action for religious leaders and actors

• #NoToHate campaign

• Fight racism

Related observances

• International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

• International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

• International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

• International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

• Human Rights Day

• End Racism Day

U.N. Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Nderitu

The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

To prevent atrocity crimes, it is critically important to understand their root causes. Crimes, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, are not spontaneous acts. They develop as a process over time, during which it may be possible to identify warning signs, including hate speech targeting specific groups. Therefore, the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide is the focal point for the implementation of the UN Strategy on Hate Speech.

Click on image to watch video

No one is born to hate

Hatred, conspiracy theories and prejudice infiltrate our societies and affect all of us. We are flooded by information - and disinformation - more than ever before both on- and offline. But no one is born to hate. Hate is learned and can be unlearned. Education for all is the foundation. Learning to think critically about what we see and hear, create and share is essential. Providing learners with media and information literacy skills to challenge those who promote hatred.

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.