On January 24, UNESCO will organize a one-day online training for several thousand teachers, giving them the tools to better identify, address and prevent incidents of hate speech. It is part of UNESCO's actions aimed at helping its member states and educators combat hate speech through education.
On the same day, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, UNESCO will bring together ministers, education officials and educators from around the world to discuss the overarching role of education in promoting lasting global peace. The 194 member states of UNESCO adopted a new recommendation in November 2023 that sets a global framework in this area.
A recent rise in hate speech
Hate messages and conspiracy theories that scapegoat communities are becoming increasingly common on online platforms. A recent survey conducted by UNESCO and IPSOS in 16 countries found that 67% of internet users say they have encountered hate speech online and 85% say they are concerned about and consider the impact and influence of disinformation on their fellow citizens for a real threat to destabilizing societies.
After the Hamas terrorist attack against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, theAnti-Defamation League found a 337% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, 320% in Germany and 961% in Brazil compared to the previous year, and an 818% increase in the Netherlands compared to the last three years. L'Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), based in the United Kingdom, also found that the amount of anti-Muslim speech on YouTube increased 43-fold between the four days before and after the attack.
A new normative instrument for education for lasting peace
Education offers various opportunities to address the causes of hate speech and raise awareness of its online and offline forms and consequences among learners of all ages. This includes giving students the skills they need to recognize and respond to hate and injustice, instilling in them the values of respect for diversity and human rights, and teaching them to distinguish hate discourse from freedom of expression.
The General Conference of UNESCO recently revised its Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development with this in mind. It is the only global normative instrument that explains how to build lasting peace and promote human development through education. This tool aims to shape education systems and policies in the coming decades, from laws and regulations to school curriculum development, including teaching practices, learning environments and assessments.
In 2023, UNESCO published the guide “Combating hate speech through education” to help decision-makers strengthen their public policies in this area. The organization has also increased its efforts to promote the fight against all forms of racism and discrimination in school textbooks. A global initiative to combat anti-Semitism in and through education was also launched.