Chinese envoy calls on world countries to join hands to combat hate speech

Publishe:June 22,2022

By Staff writer

Ambassador Zhang Jun our

China’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Zhang Jun, argued countries to come together to jointly combat hate speech. Ambassador Zhang made the call on Monday during a meeting of the UN General assembly that marked the first International Day to commemorate Countering Hate speech.

The Chinese envoy in his speech, said that, “hate speech erodes the common values of humanity, affects social stability, induces violent conflicts, undermines peace and security, hinders the achievement of sustainable development, and seriously poisons the international community’s efforts to work together to address global challenges.”

The UN General Assembly in July 2021 proclaimed June 18 as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, following a resolution that was proposed by China and other countries. 

Zhang observed that political leaders and the press have a special responsibility to stop the spread of hate speech and cultivate an inclusive culture of peace. He further called on the international community not to tolerate hate speech.

Zhang noted there has been an “information pandemic” triggered by all kinds of stigmatizing rhetorics and inaccurate and false information on the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seriously disrupted and harmed international solidarity and cooperation in fighting the pandemic.

The Chinese envoy also noted that there have been widespread extremist ideologies such as discrimination and hatred against people of African and Asian descents, escalated by hate speech which hassignificantly contributed to hate crimes.

Hate speech has also led to a rising “Islamophobia,” Zhang said, adding that China was one of the countries that proposed the resolution that made the UN General Assembly to designate March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.