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In this regard, States have positive obligations to address the issue of hate speech, ranging from enacting appropriate legislation in compliance with Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to adopting comprehensive educational and cultural measures.
At the same time, it is important that the legal regulation of hate speech does not unduly restrict freedom of expression or media freedom. Laws regulating hate speech should fully comply with the requirements of legality, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality, and should not be misused to suppress legitimate criticism, persecute independent professional media and/or stifle dissenting voices.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) supports participating States in developing policies aimed at countering all forms of expression that spread, incite, promote or justify national, racial and/or religious hatred, as well as other forms of hatred based on intolerance and prejudice.
Media actors can play a crucial role in preventing and countering hate speech. The media should proactively work to identify and challenge harmful stereotypes, and counteract disinformation, hate speech, discriminatory norms and attitudes as well as negative prejudices in their coverage and reporting.
In its efforts to address hate speech, the Office of the OSCE RFoM closely cooperates with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM). Together, these institutions develop and implement specific initiatives and provide actionable recommendations on countering hate speech against national minorities.
Featured
Activities, news and other highlights
Decision / declaration
Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy
This Joint Declaration outlines the interrelationship and interdependency of media freedom and democratic values, and the critical role of media freedom in enabling and sustaining democratic societies. It also provides a set of recommendations to States and other stakeholders to secure and facilitate the media’s role as a vital institution and pillar of democracy.
Decision / declaration
Joint Declaration on Politicians and Public Officials and Freedom of Expression
Declaration by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
Conference
OSCE-wide event on countering hate speech
Hateful and aggressive rhetoric has always been a very destructive force in our societies. In the last decades, the digital transformation of the media landscape, which has radically increased both the magnitude and outreach of hateful…
News and activities
Current announcements, press releases, media advisories and other updates
Resources
Official OSCE documents, publications and other manually selected resources
Studies and reports
Reports, studies and analyses for policymakers, researchers and all those interested in this field of our work
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