Addressing Hate Speech Through Education: a guide for policy makers

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OCM Datasheet

Intended Audience

Educators and education policy makers

UNESCO

2023

“Hate speech is a centuries-old problem of acute concern that has gained new levels of traction globally as a result of the digital turn and rise of populism. Today, hatred is thriving, both online and offline, infringing on the individual and collective human rights and undermining social cohesion.

Hate speech has the potential to incite violence and discrimination. It has emerged as a tool of choice for the prejudiced seeking to discriminate against, exclude and harm others that they perceive as different. It has spawned violent extremist ideologies and instigated atrocity crimes, including genocide.

The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech provides a framework to better coordinate global action to counter the phenomenon. As the problem is complex, the responses need to be versatile and education has a central role to play in helping to effectively address the root causes of hate speech and build the capacity of learners to oppose it by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to counter the hateful narratives that they are confronted with, whether online or offline.

Countering hate speech does not mean to limit the freedom to speak. On the contrary, it should mean striving to encourage, foster and protect freedom of expression as a universal human right, ensuring that measures to safeguard individuals and groups from being targeted do nothing to curb access to that right.

Education can help to strike this difficult balance by empowering teachers and educators to foster an appreciation of human rights, promote respect for diversity and cultivate active and responsible citizenship. This policy guide seeks to provide guidance and recommendations on how better to frame, develop and implement education policies to address the problem.” (p.6)

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource is most closely related to SDGs around social inclusion and education, including 1.5 (build the resilience of the poor), 3.4 (health and wellbeing), 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development), 4.A (inclusive learning environments), 5.1 (end discrimination against women and girls), 9.1 (sustainable infrastructure for wellbeing and economic development), 10.2 (universal social, political and economic inclusion), 10.3 (reduce inequalities of outcomes), 10.7 (well-managed migration policies), 11.7 (inclusive green and public spaces), 11.B (integrated planning and policies for inclusion and risk reduction), 16.1 (reduce violence
everywhere), 16.3 (promote the Rule of Law), 16.6 (effective, accountable and transparent institutions), 16.7 (inclusive and participatory decision making), 16.10 (protect the right to information and other human rights), 16.B (promote laws and policies for sustainable development), 17.14 (policy coherence for sustainable development) and 17.16 (global partnerships for sustainable development).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 1.5: Build Resilience to Environmental, Economic and Social Disasters
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of collecting programmes that aim to build resilience to climate-related events and other shocks and disasters, for example by forming collections that can contribute to related educational and research programmes.
Number of educational programmes drawing on collections that incorporate resilience perspectives.
Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that are aimed at vulnerable groups, to build their resilience to climate-related and other shocks and disasters.
Number of research programmes drawing on collections that are aimed at building resilience to climate-related and other shocks and disasters.
Strengthen the resilience of employees, communities and suppliers by paying at a minimum the living wage and offering insurance to employees and their families, such as accident insurance; and by paying fair prices to all suppliers.
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SDG 3.4: Reduce Mortality from Non-Communicable Diseases and Promote Mental Health
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections, notably in relation to chemical, physical, biological and other forms of hazard.
Proportion of users of collections facilities reporting positive well-being during and as a result of activities relating to collections.
Number and proportion of programmes relating to collections that incorporate wellbeing considerations and perspectives.
Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to non-communicable diseases, supporting prevention and treatment.
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SDG 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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SDG 4.A: Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive.
Proportion of education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
Number and type of initiatives to improve effectiveness of learning environments.
Support given to other education facilities to make them more inclusive and effective.
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SDG 5.1: End Discrimination Against Women and Girls
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of sex or gender.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of sex or gender.
Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with people of different sex and gender.
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SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
Investment in collections facilities.
Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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SDG 10.3: Ensure Equal Opportunities and End Discrimination
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Identification of discriminatory policies and practices, with clear plans to address these, to ensure equal opportunity for all and reduce inequalities of outcome.
Collections development to uphold and promote legislation and anti-discriminatory perspectives, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
Education and participatory programmes that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
Research that supports anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
Participation in partnerships that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
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SDG 10.7: Responsible and Well-Managed Migration Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development that supports a variety of uses relating to migration and that enables migrants and refugees to access their heritage.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections who are from migrant backgrounds.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes supporting migrants and refugees.
Use of collections for a variety of purposes (education, awareness-raising, research, partnerships) that address issues relating to migration, mobility, and refugees.
Numbers and proportions of people and groups from different migrant backgrounds in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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SDG 11.7: Provide Access to Safe and Inclusive Green and Public Spaces
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups, notably women, children, older people and persons with disabilities.
Increases in numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups.
Measures taken to remove barriers to access green and public spaces.
Extent of green space provided by collections institutions.
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SDG 11.B: Implement Policies for Inclusion, Resource Efficiency and Disaster Risk Reduction
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030a.
Disaster Risk Reduction strategies and plans in place, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, to ensure collecting institutions and collections are factored into planning, and contribute effectively to Disaster Risk Reduction.
Collections-based institutions included in local plans for social inclusion, resource use, and Disaster Risk Reduction.
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SDG 16.1: Reduce Violence Everywhere
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development that relates to violent crime, and violence of all kinds, and the relationships between violence and mortality.
Number of educational, awareness-raising and partnership programmes drawing on collections that aim to reduce violence and related mortality.
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SDG 16.3: Promote the Rule of Law and Ensure Equal Access to Justice
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development that relates to the rule of law, equality before the law, and justice for all.
Number of activities drawing on collections, for example educational, research and partnership activities, that promote the rule of law at national and international levels, and that promote a culture of lawfulness, and the right of all to justice.
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SDG 16.6: Develop Effective Accountable and Transparent Institutions
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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SDG 16.7: Ensure Responsive, Inclusive and Representative Decision-Making
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group.
Decision-making addresses societal, environmental and economic challenges related to the community, considering short-term and long-term risks and opportunities.
Decision-making draws on diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and interests, reflecting a broad base of stakeholders, and working to promote inclusion and provide effective services for all of society.
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SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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SDG 17.14: Enhance Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, linking to SDGs and targets.
Incorporation of policy considerations from outside the collections sector into policies of collections-based institutions, to facilitate partnerships and effectiveness.
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SDG 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships involving developing countries that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs.
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