Dennis Francis (General Assembly President) on…

Full Remarks:

I am reaching out to you, near or far, with a single, clear message: Hate has no place in our world.

Since the 7th of October, the world has seen a sharp and worrying increase in hate, hate speech and hate crimes.

This is utterly and unequivocally unacceptable.

I vehemently denounce discrimination on any grounds, online or offline, and repudiate any threats or incitement to violence rooted in a person's race, ethnicity, or religion.

Recalling the first line of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which we, as the United Nations, will re-dedicate ourselves at the impending 75th anniversary celebrations:

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights".

The Universal Declaration abhors, as we should, and must, the dehumanization of all people, whether based on race, ethnicity, faith, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

To do so would be to promote and to perpetuate vile and discriminatory ideas and practices that deny and undermine the universality of our humanity.

Hate speech only deepens painful wounds and encourages a cycle of violence and distrust that cannot resolve conflicts and/ or misunderstandings.

Constructive conversations and respectful dialogue are the keys to fostering harmony, mutual understanding, and tolerance among all people.

Let us therefore stand united against hate and hate speech.

Let us promote instead tolerance, compassion and a commitment to peaceful coexistence, in order to build strong, cohesive, inclusive and productive societies, that benefit all, in equal measure.

Together, we can build a future of Peace, anchored on harmony and respect, and based on our common inalienable humanity.

I thank you.