Politics & Policy

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed a global conference on interreligious and cultural dialogue at UN Headquarters in New York, calling for immediate concerted action by governments, technology companies, and civil society to combat the rapid spread of hate speech. He emphasized that toxic messages are spreading fast and striking deep, increasingly weaponizing new technologies including digital platforms, algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence. Guterres warned that hate speech is eroding shared humanity by dividing communities and dehumanizing groups, with racism, misogyny, xenophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Muslim hatred being normalized globally. He stated that while reining in hate speech does not extinguish freedom of expression, such freedom must never serve as an excuse for causing or compounding harm, linking unchecked rhetoric directly to incitement of violence and atrocity crimes like genocide. The Secretary-General highlighted existing frameworks such as the Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech and the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, but stressed that conquering this issue requires a shared responsibility across all sectors. He urged stakeholders to address root causes through inclusive dialogue grounded in respect and equity to build cohesive, stable societies envisioned in the UN Charter