Published on: 2026-09-17
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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September 17, 2026 Culture and Education
“To show tolerance and live together in peace with one another, like good neighbors.” These are words from the UN Charter, which Secretary-General António Guterres reminded participants of the Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance to Counter Hate Speech on Thursday.
For eight decades, the UN has been striving toward this goal, promoting peaceful dispute resolution, protecting human rights, and serving as a platform for global dialogue, noted the Secretary-General.
However, the realization of this vision is hindered by hate speech, which is spreading at an enormous speed today. Hate rhetoric takes on new forms and is transmitted using new technologies, including digital platforms and artificial intelligence.
Around the world, hate-inciting statements are destroying racial and religious harmony by normalizing racism, misogyny, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination against Christian and other minorities.
“In its most dangerous manifestations, hate speech provokes violence, fuels conflicts, and contributes to the commission of serious crimes – including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing,” Guterres said.
Fundamental societal values such as empathy, mutual understanding, and respect for diversity are weakening. The UN chief has called on the international community to intensify the fight against hate speech both online and offline.
UN photo Around the world, hate-inciting statements destroy racial and religious harmony, normalizing racism, misogyny, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination against Christian and other minorities.
To do this, he emphasized, it is necessary to eliminate the root causes of the problem, support victims of bullying, and ensure accountability of technology companies. Education and strengthening interfaith dialogue should become key tools to counter dangerous narratives, Guterres noted.
The Secretary-General specifically emphasized that combating hate speech does not mean limiting freedom of speech. At the same time, the right to express one’s own opinion should never serve as a justification for causing harm to others.
Specific mechanisms are already being implemented within the international system, in particular the UN Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Hate Speech.
The second most important instrument is the UN Action Plan for the Protection of Religious Sites. It contains specific recommendations aimed at ensuring the safety of believers and creating conditions in which values such as compassion and tolerance will thrive.
At the same time, Guterres noted that the UN is not capable of defeating hate speech by its own efforts alone. Governments, international and religious organizations, the private sector, civil society, academic circles, and the media also bear responsibility for building a safe and just society.
The UN Secretary-General addressed conference participants with a call to unite efforts to end the “tragic cycles of fear, hatred, and violence.”
“We must work together to promote mutual understanding,” he concluded.
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