hate speech

is speech that contributes to a climate of hatred and violence towards marginalized and disempowered sectors of the community, thus violating the basic human dignity of its victims.

In 1948, in response to the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany, the General Assembly of the United Nations ushered in a new era of human rights protection in international law by adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During the intervening half century Western liberal democracies have embraced the ideals of non-discrimination and equal protection before the law. In this context 'vilification', or 'hate speech', is regarded as speech which is particularly harmful because it contributes to a climate of hatred and violence towards marginalised and disempowered sectors of the community. It violates the basic human dignity of its victims.

Western liberal democraciesThinkers

Western liberal democracies