A/67/357
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Summary
The focus of the present report is on hate speech and incitement to hatred,
given the continuing challenge faced in identifying ways to reconcile the need to
protect and promote the right to freedom of opinion and expression, on the one hand,
and to combat discrimination and incitement to hatred, on the other. The Special
Rapporteur presents an overview of the phenomenon, the relevant international
norms and standards, including distinctions between types of hate speech, and
examples of domestic legislation that contravene international norms and standards.
While noting the importance of clear laws that conform to international norms and
principles to combat hate speech, the Special Rapporteur underscores the importance
of non-legal measures to tackle the root causes of hatred and intolerance. The report
concludes with a set of recommendations to combat hate speech effectively without
unduly curtailing the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The Special
Rapporteur also provides a brief account of his activities since his report to the
Human Rights Council at its twentieth session (A/HRC/20/17).
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