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PGA’s vision is to contribute to the creation of a Rules-Based International Order for a more equitable, safe, sustainable and democratic world.

Parliamentarians Must Tackle Hate Speech to Protect Inclusive Democracy

Photo Courtesy the United Nations
Photo Courtesy the United Nations

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) marks the Third International Day for Countering Hate Speech by calling for a strong commitment to combat hate speech worldwide and its adverse impacts on vulnerable populations and democratic institutions.

Although there is no universal definition of hate speech, the June 2019 United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech defines it as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.”

Hate speech feeds cycles of violence, which are exacerbated by disinformation, misinformation and incitement to violence that may trigger the commission of atrocity crimes. Recognizing the grave threat to democratic principles and institutions, peace and security and respect for human rights, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2686 (2023), urging the International Community to Prevent Incitement, Condemn Hate Speech, Racism, Acts of Extremism. Vulnerable and marginalized communities are the most impacted by the prevalence of hate speech, which can lead to discrimination, abuse and violence, and socio-economic exclusion.

Social media and new information technologies amplify hate speech and on-line violence, reaching broader audiences without accountability for perpetrators. Notably, technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a growing problem that can take many forms, including sextortion (blackmail by threatening to publish sexual information, photos or videos); image-based abuse (sharing intimate photos without consent); doxxing (publishing private personal information); cyberbullying; online gender and sexual harassment; cyberstalking; online grooming for sexual assault; hacking; hate speech; online impersonation; and using technology to locate survivors of abuse in order to inflict further violence, among many others. The consequence on health, safety, political and economic participation for women and girls, for their families and communities are dire. As women and girls self-censor to prevent technology-facilitated gender-based violence, their voices are silenced and democracies suffer. Although the number of women elected to political office has risen over the last two decades, progress has stalled or slowed in recent times.

Parliamentarians are the representatives of the people. In that role, they have broad prerogatives to introduce and approve legislation, discuss best practices with stakeholders, as well as oversee the actions of the government to counter hate speech. It is our collective responsibility to seriously tackle hate speech, which undermines all democratic goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 16 on promoting of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.


Recommendations to parliamentarians to counter hate speech while promoting safe and inclusive environments for all:

  • Raise Awareness: Sensitize and educate about the detrimental effects of hate speech on individuals, communities, and democratic institutions. This includes collaborating with civil society organizations, promoting awareness campaigns, organizing workshops and capacity-building programs, and incorporating educational initiatives to foster understanding and empathy to counter hate speech.
  • Legislative Measures: Advocate for, and adopt legislation that explicitly condemns hate speech and provides appropriate legal mechanisms to address its manifestations within parliaments. These measures should include clear definitions of hate speech, penalties for offenders, and mechanisms for redress and support for victims.
  • Promote Inclusion and Diversity: Actively promote gender equality, inclusion, and diversity within parliamentary structures. This involves encouraging the political participation of women, LGBTQI+ legislators, and ethnic minorities to create safe spaces to voice their concerns, perspectives, and policy proposals.
  • Code of Conduct: Adhering to a comprehensive code of conduct, such as the one developed by Parliamentarians for Global Action, encouraging the integrity of political speech within parliamentary proceedings. Qualitative engagement among legislators and with their constituents can foster more dialogue and support rebuilding trust in the legislative branch, closest to citizens.
  • Encourage Legislation and Public Policy for Safe Digital Spaces: Collaborate with tech companies, civil society organizations, NGOs, and international bodies to develop effective strategies to monitor and regulate online spaces, ensuring that these platforms are not breeding grounds for hate speech but platforms that promote dialogue, understanding, and respect. By addressing issues in the digital realm, parliamentarians can promote a safer and more inclusive online environment for all.

Parliamentarians should also:

  • Receive expert trainings on cybercrimes and how to effectively introduce legislative provisions to tackle them.
  • Encourage the participation of women and other vulnerable groups in politics by ensuring a safe environment for them at the political party level.
  • Promote dialogue between multi-disciplinary parliamentary working groups and parliamentary friendship groups – to share experience and coordinate action to counter the use of hate speech and sensitize the citizenry, especially the youth, on why it is harmful to society.
  • Urge a responsible use of information and communication technology to prevent abuses. Legislation prohibiting users to hide behind fake names or identities would permit the allocation of responsibility, with the view that a clear attribution of public interventions or direct messages to their authors may have a deterrent effect.
  • Sensitization campaigns in schools, to ensure that young people understand the dangers of hate speech.

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