‘Hate speech is poison in the well of society,’ says Guterres (UN News)

Hate speech is a warning sign and a driver of violence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said ahead of Wednesday’s International Day for Countering Hate Speech. “It is an alarm bell: the louder it rings, the greater the threat of genocide,” he warned. As part of its core mission to combat hatred, discrimination, racism and inequality, the UN is stepping up efforts to challenge hate speech wherever it arises. “Hate speech is poison in the well of society. It has paved the way for violence and atrocities during the darkest chapters of human history,” Mr. Guterres added.

‘Hate speech is poison in the well of society,’ says Guterres | UN News