A new UNESCO report, issued ahead of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, finds almost two-thirds of people worldwide are regularly exposed to hate speech and other harmful content online.
A Day Rooted in Global Action
Observance is on June 18 every year, a date chosen by the United Nations to coincide with the anniversary of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, launched on 18 June 2019. In December 2019, the day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly with a specific resolution explicitly requesting governments, civil society, and technology companies to combat discriminatory speech online as well as offline.
Education as a Frontline Defense
According to UNESCO, well-trained teachers are at the heart of addressing this issue, helping students learn the skills they need to think critically and act responsibly online. The agency is advocating media and information literacy and global citizenship education as methods for learners, educators, and policymakers. In observance of the day in 2026, UNESCO organized a worldwide webinar to explore new challenges and solutions related to hate speech in the online ecosystem as well as published a new temporary coverage on tackling hate speech via media literacy.
