Chair,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

At the outset, the EU expresses its support for the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech and remains fully committed to cooperating with the United Nations to step up a coordinated response against hate speech at the national and international levels.

In today’s deeply interconnected world, we need to ensure our own interconnectedness when it comes to tackling global problems, including hate speech. Only by working together in multi-stakeholder settings involving state institutions, civil society organisations, experts and online intermediaries can we ensure an effective and human rights based response to hatred and intolerance.

The right to freedom of opinion and expression is an inalienable right of each person, and is one of the essential pillars of our democratic societies. This freedom extends to information and ideas that may offend, shock or disturb others, including criticism of religion, ideology, beliefs and institutions, and all forms of satire.

However, the right to freedom of opinion and expression is not absolute. For example, States are obliged to prohibit by law propaganda for war and incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

Every institution at the national and international level has a responsibility for preventing hate speech. The values of pluralism, tolerance, diversity, equality and non-discrimination must always prevail.

Violence often starts with words. We have seen how hate speech has become a powerful factor contributing to conflicts and wars of aggression. The EU is concerned about the rise in hateful rhetoric worldwide, fuelled by disinformation and false narratives.

Chair,

We welcome this year’s theme on the need for investing in the power of youth for countering and addressing hate speech. Young persons are key drivers of positive change and essential partners to advance sustainable and inclusive development. Youth should be at the centre of everything we do - this is fundamental to build stronger, more legitimate, inclusive, peaceful and democratic societies, where human rights and the rule of law are respected.

The European Union was founded on values such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

We are strongly opposed to all forms of discrimination including on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the EU, while respecting and protecting the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, is prohibited. Racist and xenophobic hate crimes and hate speech amounting to incitement is illegal and may constitute criminal offences in the EU.

Allow me to highlight four EU initiatives to counter hate speech in recent years.

First, in 2016 online platforms such as Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Google/YouTube agreed on a EU Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech. The Code contributed to achieving important results on the review of hate speech notices. To face new emerging challenges, the signatories are now proposing a revised set of commitments. A new Code of conduct will be launched soon to enhance its capacity to prevent hate to spread virally and to ensure continuous added value to the rules set by the DSA.

Second, in November 2022, with the entry into force of the Digital Services Act, the EU took another significant step to combat illegal content online, as well as other systemic risks for society.  The Digital Services Act represents an unprecedented set of enforceable rules and provides for a comprehensive approach to tackling all forms of illegal content online and responding to systemic risks, while protecting human rights. The Digital Services Act introduces transparency obligations for online platforms as regards their content moderation activities, terms and conditions, algorithms, recommender systems used and online advertising.

Third, to better respond against hatred in society, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Policy adopted a Joint communication in December 2023 on “No Place for Hate”. The Communication aims to step up efforts against hate speech and hate crime in a variety of policy sectors.

Fourth, as an immediate follow up to the Communication, the European Commission organised a European Citizens Panel on tackling hatred in society, bringing together randomly selected citizens from all over the EU to discuss measures to foster mutual respect. The panel adopted 21 recommendations, many of which focused on the role of education and of younger generations in fostering a society where pluralism and non-discrimination prevail.

To conclude, these actions demonstrate the EU’s commitment in countering hate speech at home and abroad.

I thank you.