King Salman orders extension of Citizen's Account Program and additional support for a full year    Al-Falih: 1,238 foreign investors obtain premium residency in Saudi Arabia    Irish PM apologizes for walking away from care worker    Several dead as Storm Bert wreaks havoc across Britain    Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Ukraine losing ground in Russia's Kursk region, says military source    Hezbollah fires rocket barrages into Israel after deadly Beirut strikes    Al Ittihad claims top spot in Saudi Pro League after victory over Al Fateh    Do cigarettes belong in a museum?    Saudi Arabia allows licensed flour milling companies to export flour    Saudi Arabia joins international partnership initiative to boost hydrogen economy    With 25 million monthly active users, Snap Inc. expands presence in Saudi Arabia to serve thriving community of creators, partners and clients    Riyadh Emir inaugurates International Conference on Conjoined Twins in Riyadh    Saudi delegation participates in the 7th U20 Deans Summit in Brazil    Saudi Arabia to host 28th Annual World Investment Conference in Riyadh    Al Khaleej stuns Al Hilal with 3-2 victory, ending 57-match unbeaten run    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN Chief: We need to make lying wrong again, curb hate speech
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 27 - 10 - 2021

The UN Secretary-General warned on Tuesday that "hatred takes root in the soil of ignorance" of historical facts, science, and the human qualities which "bind all people together."
Antonio Guterres was speaking at the Global Education Ministers Conference on addressing hate speech through education.
Remembering the horrors of the World War Two and the genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia, he argued that "denial of historical or scientific facts creates a vacuum of truth that is too easily exploited by the voices of intolerance and hate."
"There is always room for debate around opinions. There is no room for debate around facts. We need to make lying wrong again", Guterres said.
Convened by The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (OSAPG), the event is part of the implementation of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.
The one-day event gathers heads of state and government, and ministers of education, to endorse global commitments to address hate speech, both on and offline, through more effective education measures.
Opening the Conference, Guterres said that "social media provides a global megaphone for hate", with lies and misinformation spreading around the world "at the touch of a button."
"A dubious webpage or anonymous post can call into question decades, even centuries, of work, thought, study and careful analysis by scientists, historians or other experts", he argued.
Noting that racist, intolerant and extremist views "can spread like wildfire", Guterres pointed to the consequences, such as pushing citizens further apart, undermining democratic ideals and, ultimately, endangering lives.
"Too many people are dying from COVID-19 because they were convinced that accepting the vaccine was the wrong thing to do", he said.
For the Secretary-General, this conference is about discussing ways in which education can help fight back against disinformation and hate speech.
"When we enrich the soil of knowledge with true expertise, with facts, science and historical accuracy, hatred cannot take root", he explained.
Guterres believes that critical thought is not simply about "thinking for yourself", but about "having the tools and skills needed to properly assess theories and facts."
"And to tilt the scales in favour of authorities and experts who have spent a lifetime studying, assessing and thinking about these issues, by publicly and privately expressing support", he added.
Noting that educators, teachers and administrators are the first line of defence, he asked the Ministers of Education participating in the event to be ambitious.
"We need to emerge from this conference with bold, concrete solutions on how we can, individually and collectively, step up the fight against hate speech", he urged.
Appealing to the inclusion of all groups, such as young people, social media companies, governments and political parties, Mr. Guterres concluded by saying that "hatred is a danger to everyone, and so fighting it must be a job for everyone."
According to the UN, hate speech is on the rise worldwide, with the potential to incite violence, undermine social cohesion and tolerance.
It can also cause psychological, emotional and physical harm based on xenophobia, racism, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and other forms of intolerance and discrimination.
Speaking at the Conference, UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, reminded that "this hatred is not new."
"What has changed more recently is the influence and magnitude of social media platforms, which have become an echo chamber that amplifies hate speech", she said.
For Ms. Azoulay, "the legal response is essential, but it is not enough."
"We must also mobilize education, because it is through education that we develop critical thinking and deconstruct prejudices", she explained.
The Director-General also said that UNESCO stands ready to support its Member States, for instance by developing policy recommendations for educational authorities all over the world. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.