International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2024; June 18th.

FORUM: "Investing in the power of youth for countering and addresing hate speech." International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2024. Empowering youth to combat hate speech is crucial in today's world, where they are not only the targets but also influential voices in their communities. With 1.2 billion young people globally, their role in recognizing, raising awareness, and countering hateful narratives cannot be overstated. As peers, they have significant sway over each other and can drive meaningful change by speaking out against hate speech. By engaging youth leaders and providing them with the resources and platforms they need, we can harness their energy and creativity to foster more inclusive and tolerant societies. There are numerous examples of successful youth-led initiatives in this regard, showcasing the potential for positive change when young people are empowered to take action against hate speech. The impact of hate speech cuts across numerous UN areas of focus, from protecting human rights and preventing atrocities to sustaining peace, achieving gender equality and supporting children and youth; The 3rd International Day for Countering Hate Speech serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to address this issue. It coincides with the five-year mark since the launch of the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, highlighting the ongoing commitment to this cause. Both online and offline, youth are at the forefront of efforts to combat hate speech. Their innovative approaches and willingness to confront difficult issues make them invaluable agents of change. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #HateSpeech, #18june, #NotoHate, #CounteringHateSpeech.

EVENTS: To observe the International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2024, the United Nations invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and other initiatives to promote strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech.

At UNHQ - The High-level event to mark the 3rd International Day for Countering Hate Speech will be held on Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 from 11:00 - 1:00pm EDT (New York time) at the United Nations ECOSOC Chamber in New York. The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations will host a high-level event to highlight the importance of investing in the power and voice of youth to counter hate speech. Get the flyer!

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2024; June 18th.


Hate speech is a marker of discrimination, abuse, violence, conflict, and even crimes against humanity. We have seen this play out from Nazi Germany to Rwanda, Bosnia and beyond. There is no acceptable level of hate speech; we must all work to eradicate it completely.

Hate speech today targets a broad range of groups, often based on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, belief, or political affiliation. Recent months have seen an upsurge in both antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate speech online and in public comments by influential leaders. Hate speech may be used against women, refugees, migrants, gender-diverse and trans people, and minorities. It is massively amplified by the power of digital platforms and tools that enable it to spread across borders and cultures.

States have an obligation under international law to prevent and combat incitement to hatred and to promote diversity, mutual understanding and solidarity. They must step up and implement these commitments, while ensuring that the measures they take preserve freedom of speech and protect minorities and other communities.

The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech provides a framework to tackle both the causes and impacts of this scourge. And the United Nations is currently preparing Global Principles for Information Integrity to guide decision-makers around these issues.

As young people are often most affected by hate speech, particularly online, young people must be part of the solution. The participation of young people, particularly girls and young women, indigenous youth, young people from minority communities, LGBTIQ youth, and young people with disabilities, is crucial to create public and online spaces free from hate speech.

Governments, local authorities, religious, corporate and community leaders have a duty to invest in measures to promote tolerance, diversity and inclusivity, and to challenge hate speech in all its forms.

As we mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, let us all work to promote human rights education, bring young people into democratic decision-making, and counter intolerance, discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes, wherever they are found.

United Nations Secretary-General.