Hate speech and incitement to hatred against minorities in the media 2015, para. 73
Paragraph
Paragraph text
Action to address hate speech and hate crime must engage majority communities, including politicians, intellectuals, celebrities and ordinary people concerned about hatred in their societies, to join marginalized and disadvantaged minorities in demanding human rights, equality and human dignity for all. Such coordinated struggle must include legislative steps, but also requires swift and efficient social responses. If hate incidents are not tackled early, targeted groups may experience permanent damage to their self-esteem and sense of belonging within their societies, thereby increasing their marginalization. Majority communities may also gradually become desensitized to hate speech, to the point where they begin to accept the hostility and stigmatization against certain groups in their societies.