International Day for Countering Hate Speech
June 18 · Level 9 · #394 of 2238
This UN day addresses speech that attacks or demeans people because of their identity or membership of a group. It encourages responsibility in public communication and respect for others, both online and in face-to-face encounters.
How it is celebrated: organizations hold discussions, awareness campaigns and media-literacy sessions. Participants learn to recognize discriminatory messages, support the people targeted and discuss differences without degrading others.
Hate speech need not contain spoken or written words. Images, symbols and gestures can carry the same hostile message, making context an important part of understanding what is being communicated.