{"id":3708,"date":"2019-07-14T10:30:07","date_gmt":"2019-07-14T04:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/new-eng\/?p=3708"},"modified":"2026-01-28T12:42:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T06:12:23","slug":"hate-speech-explained-a-toolkit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/?p=3708","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hate Speech\u2019 Explained: A Toolkit"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this\u00a0toolkit<\/a>, ARTICLE 19 provides a\u00a0guide to identifying \u2019hate speech\u2018 and how to effectively counter it<\/strong>, while protecting the rights to freedom of expression and equality.<\/p>\n

It responds to a\u00a0growing demand for clear guidance<\/strong>\u00a0on identifying \u201chate speech,\u201d and for responding to the challenges \u2018hate speech\u2019 poses within a human rights framework.<\/p>\n

As such, it addresses three key questions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How do we\u00a0identify \u2019hate speech\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0that can be restricted, and distinguish it from protected speech?<\/li>\n
  2. What\u00a0positive measures<\/strong>\u00a0can States and others take to\u00a0counter \u2018hate speech\u2019<\/strong>?<\/li>\n
  3. Which\u00a0types of \u2018hate speech\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0should be prohibited by States, and under which circumstances?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The toolkit is guided by the principle that coordinated and focused action taken to promote the rights to freedom of expression and equality is essential for fostering a tolerant, pluralistic and diverse democratic society in which all human rights can be realised for all people. It is informed by, and builds upon, ARTICLE 19\u2019s existing policy work in this field.<\/p>\n

    In Part I, we outline that\u00a0there is no uniform definition of \u2019hate speech\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0under international human rights law, rather, it is a broad concept which captures a wide range of expression. The toolkit advances a typology for identifying and distinguishing different forms of \u2018hate speech\u2019 according to their severity, guided by states\u2019 international human rights law obligations.<\/p>\n

    In Part II, we provide guidance on what\u00a0policy measures State and non-state actors can undertake to create an enabling environment for freedom of expression and equality<\/strong>\u00a0that addresses the underlying causes of \u2018hate speech\u2019 while maximising opportunities to counter it.<\/p>\n

    Finally, in Part III, we outline the\u00a0exceptional circumstances in which the State is obliged by international law to prohibit the most severe forms of \u2018hate speech\u2019<\/strong>, and where also States may under international law place other restrictions on \u2018hate speech\u2019. This includes guidance on ensuring that such prohibitions are not abused, and to ensure that where sanctions are imposed they are appropriate and proportionate, as well as ensuring support and redress for victims.<\/p>\n

    ARTICLE 19 believes that\u00a0ensuring that responses to \u2018hate speech\u2019 comply with international human rights law is crucial<\/strong>. Prohibitions that censor offensive viewpoints are often counter-productive to the aim of promoting equality, as they fail to address the underlying social roots of the kinds of prejudice that drive \u201chate speech.\u201d In most instances, equality is better-promoted through positive measures which increase understanding and tolerance, rather than through censorship.<\/p>\n

    This toolkit is not a definitive version, and will be continuously updated to reflect the developing case law and best practices in this area.<\/p>\n

    Read the toolkit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    Hate speech<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    In this\u00a0toolkit, ARTICLE 19 provides a\u00a0guide to identifying \u2019hate speech\u2018 and how to effectively counter it, while protecting the rights to freedom of expression and equality. It responds to a\u00a0growing demand for clear guidance\u00a0on identifying \u201chate speech,\u201d and for responding to the challenges \u2018hate speech\u2019 poses within a human rights framework. As such, it addresses […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3708"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3710,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3708\/revisions\/3710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}