Kathmandu, 20 June 2023: A Sub-Regional launch event “Addressing Hate Speech Through Education: A guide for Policy Maker” by UNESCO marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech was organized in Kathmandu today.
This publication presents the first policy guidance, co-published in March 2023 by the United Nations' Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG) and UNESCO, marks a pivotal step in the global effort to tackle hate speech effectively.
The launch brought together policymakers, educational stakeholders, and youth leaders from seven countries -Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan to further disseminate the principles exposed in this new policy guide.
Hon’ble Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal, Hon’ble A. Aravindh Kumar, State Minister of Education, Sri Lanka, Hon’ble Fathimath Naseer, Minister of State for Education, Maldives, Respected Ram Krishna Subedi, Secretary of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Secretary General of Nepal National Commission for UNESCO and Her Excellency Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal jointly launched the policy guide in Kathmandu.
Speaking at the program, Hon’ble Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister of Education, Science and Technology said, “It is through education that we can effectively address the harmful impact of hate speech and work towards building a society that embraces tolerance, civility, and inclusivity. Therefore, it is essential to integrate media literacy into both formal and non-formal education curricula, ensuring that our educational discourse remains free from the destructive influence of hate speech."
“Hate speech takes many forms, from targeting the individual to entire communities, but all remain on the same spectrum of violence. This policy guide launched today will be instrumental empowering our teachers to promote respect for diversity and cultivate active and responsible citizenship and empowering learners with critical thinking to view and use digital spaces critically to recognize the persuasive tactics commonly used to spread conspiracy theories and other forms of disinformation and harmful content,” said her excellency Hanaa Singer Hamdy, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal.
This policy guide aims to show how hate speech can be addressed as part of a mission to strengthen the inclusiveness of communities and nations and strive for the broader goal of fostering comprehensive societal resilience in the face of hateful ideologies, violent extremism and atrocity crimes while upholding and promoting freedom of expression.
Hon’ble A. Aravindh Kumar, State Minister for Education, Sri Lanka added, “The role of social media in shaping responsible citizens should not be underestimated. It is imperative that social media platforms understand their influence and actively discourage the promotion of hate speech. By doing so, no one stands to benefit, and instead, we can foster a society that thrives on positivity and mutual respect.”
Hon’ble Fathimath Naseer, Minister of State for Education in the Maldives emphasized the significance of nurturing a collaborative decision-making process. She stressed the crucial need for government officials, representatives from the education ministry, law enforcement agencies including the police, and NGOs to come together and address the pressing issue of hate speech that is very common in South Asian countries.
The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, launched in 2019, calls for a coordinated, system-wide response to the upsurge in harmful discourse, online and offline, and for education to be leveraged “as a tool for addressing and countering” the phenomenon.
For Further Information contact:
Simrika Sharma | National Information Officer | [email protected] | 5523200
Rabin Rai | Communications Specialist | [email protected] | 5554396
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