(New York – Torino, 22 January 2025) The United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide (UN OSAPG) and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) are pleased to launch the new introductory course on “The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech”, a unique educational offering made freely available to all United Nations (UN) personnel on the Blue Line platform.
The course was officially presented today in New York to Principals of the UN Working Gorup on Hate Speech. On this occasion, representatives from both organizations and course developers came together to highlight the importance of addressing the alarming trend of rising hate speech around the world through accessible learning as a tool to raise awareness and take action.
“In its most extreme, hate speech can incite violence and lead to most serious of crimes under international law, including genocide,” said Virginia Gamba, Acting Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. “It helps enable an environment which discriminates, dehumanizes and marginalizes those who are different or perceived to be so. It fuels hatred and tramples human dignity; therefore, it needs to be identified and addressed from the outset.”
“For this reason, addressing and countering hate speech must be a priority for all UN personnel, including those working in the Secretariat, as well as UN agencies, funds, and programmes across the world, as outlined in the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.”
This online course has been specifically designed to raise awareness among UN personnel about the impact of hate speech, and to equip them with a deep understanding of the UN’s holistic strategy to address and counter hate speech, in line with human rights law and standards, thus providing them with the essential knowledge and tools to create a positive impact in their work and beyond.
Through three interactive lessons, engaging content and practical tools, participants will learn to:
“As UN staff, each of us has a unique role in confronting hate speech,” said Jafar Javan, Director of UNSSC. “This course invites you to reflect on how your work contributes to creating a more inclusive and respectful environment, both within the UN system and beyond. By strengthening your understanding and honing your skills, you can play an active role in fostering a culture that rejects hate and embraces diversity.”
Find out more about the course and register here: https://www.unssc.org/courses/introductory-course-un-strategy-and-plan-action-hate-speech