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20 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It is my honor to welcome you all to this High-Level Meeting to commemorate the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech – celebrated on 18 June.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Although this trend is not new, cyberspace and social media together with the proliferation of disinformation and fake news have aggravated the effects of hate speech to unprecedented heights.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This dangerous trend only serves to divide us at a time when we need unity more than ever.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For this reason, I take great pride in opening today\u2019s observance, and I commend the dedication displayed by Member States in tackling this issue, which threatens to tear us apart.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To address this challenge in a comprehensive manner, we must cultivate our global cooperation and stand united \u2013 embracing the collective spirit that this great institution was designed to foster, and that Hate Speech seeks to undermine.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Hate Speech is an inherent threat to our values and principles.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It increases vulnerability to violence and heightens exposure to exclusion and discrimination \u2013 exacerbating underlying inequalities and undermining social cohesion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We cannot let the word \u201cspeech\u201d fool us: this trend has grave material consequences on the lives of those it targets and has particularly adverse effects on those most vulnerable.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Whether rooted in racism, religious persecution, or other forms of prejudice, hate speech has the power to upend the safety and quality of life of individuals and entire communities.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tackling the root causes and social impacts of hate speech requires a multi-stakeholder approach from governments, civil society, academia, media, the private sector, through tech and social media companies, religious leaders, as well as the victims and affected communities.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I encourage Member States to bolster interreligious and intercultural dialogue, respect for diversity, and the elimination of discrimination based on race, gender, religion or ethnicity, by emphasizing the values of peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let\u2019s work together to implement the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action against Hate Speech which sets out a framework to counter hate speech in a manner consistent with international human rights standards, while protecting freedom of opinion and expression.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ was born out of a fundamental necessity to combat hate.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Since its inception, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has upheld its fight against hate as the bedrock of its mission to guarantee human rights for all.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We are gathered today to raise awareness on this issue and to galvanize political strategies to identify and counter hate-speech at the national and global levels.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies, I urge you to take today\u2019s conversation and build on it, to end Hate Speech and to strengthen our communities\u2019 resiliency so they can cope when it does occur.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I look forward to seeing how we can translate the outcomes of today\u2019s discussion into a movement to end Hate Speech.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" United Nations General Assembly, New York<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-267896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n