The exponential rise in hate speech: a report for the international day against hate speech

18 June - Celebrating the international day for countering hate speech 

By Rose Chiara Atieno / GICJ 

In preparation for the international Day for Countering Hate Speech, it is important to highlight the rapid increase of hate speech globally to reflect and strategise on how to counter this issue. Thus, this report functions to raise awareness on the rise of hate speech and the effects of hate speech in the world especially as we near International Day for Countering Hate Speech. Additionally, this report functions as an annexation to the GICJ 2021 report on the increase in hate speech and hate crime.

In today’s digital world, hate has become more rampant and widespread, making everyone more vulnerable to its reach. Hence, in 2021, the UN General Assembly, called attention to the dramatic rise in hate speech and declared the 18th of June as the international Day for Countering Hate Speech. A day for promotion of inclusivity, understanding and a day to promote the decrease of hate speech. On this day, the UN calls for people and organisations to identify and reflect on ways to counter hate speech.

In accordance with different treaties within international law, discrimination of any person has been prohibited and, in some instances, criminalised to assure the protection of the livelihood of all persons. For example, the United Nations prohibits discrimination and has enacted this in the International Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination (ICERD) . The purpose of this convention is to ban any form of discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or ethnic origin. All signatories to this convention, are to condemn racial discrimination and to effectively and without delay implement policies to eliminate racial discrimination.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is an additional treaty that further highlights the importance of upholding the protection of people against discrimination. For example, article 2 of the convent states that all signatories of the covenant are to ensure that all individuals within their territory or subject to their jurisdiction are protected against discrimination based on race, colour, religion, gender, political opinions, or any other factor that can be discriminated against.

In 2025, we continue to see countries such as western powers foster a culture in which hate speech is accepted and used in driving political agendas. Politicians, such as Donald Trump increasingly used hate speech to propagate violence to gain success in their campaigns to which some have been successful. Additionally, there is a continued increase in hate speech targeted towards Arab people especially following the increased awareness of the illegal occupation in Palestine.

Furthermore, there has been a global increase in hate speech targeting women, often accompanied by persistent acts of gender-based violence. In the UK, over 70% of social media users have either encountered or been exposed to misogynistic content – predominantly generated by men and frequently laden with hateful rhetoric towards women. The United Nations ensures the protection of women against discrimination through the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. (CEDAW).

In adopting the convention, the different states assume all undertakings to ensure that they uphold the principles of the convention such as:

- Implementing the principles of equality between men and women and abolish laws that promote discrimination

- Ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by all persons, organisations, and enterprises.

This report aims to highlight the growing rates of hate speech and its relations to hate crimes to further raise awareness to the ongoing crises that is the rise in hate speech. It will showcase different states and their efforts or lack of towards combating hate speech.