The ambassador noted, on this occasion, the rise in force of hate speech in several countries of the world, as well as the stigmatization and instrumentalization of migrants, refugees and minorities.
He also pointed out that Morocco has strengthened its legislative and institutional arsenal to promote acceptance, mutual recognition and respect for “otherness” and to exclude prejudices, stereotypes and hatred, while maintaining the lessons of moderate Islam.
Complete review of the Moroccan education system
He underlined that Morocco, under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, was keen to engage in the effort to combat hate speech through a comprehensive review of the Moroccan education system, including the reform religious educational institutions such as the universities of Al Qarawayyin and Dar Al Hadith Al Hassaniyya as well as all Islamic educational programs.
This strategy has strengthened Morocco’s position as a host country for a number of migrants and refugees from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Hilale pointed out, noting that the Kingdom is a “fierce opponent” to this scourge.
Hilale indicated that the notions of altruism and religious diversity have been introduced in all general education courses, specifying that under the High instructions of HM the King, several specialized research centers have been launched in this field. .
In 2014, the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates was created under a royal Dhahir, he recalled, noting that training within this establishment includes practical subjects and theories of Sharia, and a panoply of humanistic disciplines that religious preachers need to understand the context in which they work.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the Moroccan strategy on immigration and asylum is centered on the fight against the dissemination of the rhetoric of hatred, as well as on the promotion of the values of acceptance, coexistence and ‘integration.
Hilale then indicated that the celebration of the 1st anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Hate Speech is an important step to advance efforts to confront this scourge and promote common commitment towards inclusion. and peace in a current context marked by uncertainty, ignorance and hatred.
In this context, he stressed the need to strengthen capacities, monitoring systems and monitoring and evaluation methodologies at international, national and local levels to effectively combat hate speech, insisting that the only response credible and achievable to this “devastating scourge” is international cooperation, multilateral action and global solidarity.
“The UN remains at the center of galvanizing global efforts to adopt a common vision of living together, rather than inciting discrimination, hatred and violence,” he concluded.
For her part, the Under-Secretary-General, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, immediately thanked Morocco for its contribution to the fight against hate speech, noting that the Kingdom has was the “driving force” in the adoption of the resolution under which 18 June was proclaimed the international day against hate speech.
She commended the efforts made by Morocco on the multilateral scene to combat hate speech, pointing out, in this regard, the value and relevance of the Fez Plan of Action on the role of religious leaders in preventing incitement to violence.
In the same vein, the President of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, thanked Morocco for organizing this event, which highlights the importance of education in the fight against the spread of speech. of hate.
He noted that the “insidious” effects of this scourge, which are unimaginable, encourage the “forces of discrimination”, stressing the importance of a collective response to counter the repercussions of this phenomenon “which risk further marginalizing the already vulnerable communities”.
Education, an effective tool against hate speech
Stressing the importance of education as the effective tool “at our disposal” to combat hate speech and promote diversity and inclusion, the senior UN official considered it necessary to instil in new generations the need to take measuring their behavior, especially on the internet.
Along the same lines, the High Representative of the United Nations for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, warned against the spread of hate speech in the world, believing that this scourge can deal a serious blow to peace. and development.
This phenomenon paves the way to conflict and tension, he warned, saying that hate speech does not fall within the scope of freedom of expression.
For his part, Yassine Isboua, National Coordinator of the movement against hate speech in Morocco called for a collective effort to counter the advance of hate speech in the world, especially on social networks.
He considered that this phenomenon has reached complex levels of intolerance, which increases the risk of violence, stressing in this regard the importance of the contribution of all stakeholders, including civil society for the promotion of values of coexistence, understanding and acceptance of the Other.
The meeting was also marked by the participation of the Assistant Director General of UNESCO, Stefania Giannini, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, the Deputy Director General of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris, and UNICEF Public Partnerships Division Director June Kunugi.
The holding of this event consecrated and recognized the role of the Kingdom as a regional and international leader in the fight against hate speech. The actions of the Kingdom under the leadership of HM the King in promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue, mutual respect, coexistence and the fight against hate speech, were widely recognized and highly appreciated during this first commemoration.
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