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End Hate Speech. End Genocide. Period. Full Stop.
As we commemorate International Day for Countering Hate Speech, we must reflect on its pivotal role in creating and perpetrating genocide
Think it today. Say it tomorrow. Do it the day after.
In 2021, the UN General Assembly voted to make June 18th the International Day for Combatting Hate Speech.
In recent years, the world has witnessed several mass atrocities. In many of these cases, hate speech was identified as a “precursor to atrocity crimes, including genocide”. While the use of social media and digital platforms to spread hatred is relatively recent, the weaponization of public discourse for political gain is unfortunately not new. As history continues to show, hate speech coupled with disinformation can lead to stigmatization, discrimination and large-scale violence. — from the video above.
The Holocaust was not a spontaneous event. Neither was Darfur. Rwanda. Bosnia. Sudan. The Uyghurs. The Rohingya. The people of Myanmar. The list goes on. Genocide Watch lists 10 stages. They are:
- Classification