Words Matter: Tackling the Impact of Hate Speech was
Hosted by: The International Interfaith Research Lab at the Oslo Center, Norway
Hate speech is a growing global problem, both online and offline. It threatens democracy and human rights, leading to dangerous societal divisions, deeply affecting the lives of those targeted, and fueling extremism, radicalization, and violence. Young people are particularly vulnerable to this form of intolerance. This conference aimed to raise awareness and understanding of hate speech and its consequences for young people while also enhancing knowledge on how to prevent and combat hate speech, hate crimes, and hate-based violence.
Former President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, addressed the audience at the #WordsMatter conference, stating: “Words do hurt, and the rapid spread of digital communication and social media has amplified their impact, turning them into weapons that can and do cause real harm.”
What is hate speech, and why is it a collective problem
The Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, delivered a keynote address on the impact of hate speech, remarking, “Hate speech is one of the most dangerous drivers of war throughout human history… There should be no room for hatred here, nor anywhere else in the world.
Today’s Conference: A Call to Action
The #WordsMatter! conference brought together global leaders, researchers, and community advocates to discuss and explore ways to combat hate speech, hate crimes, and the exploitation of youth.
Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi and a leading advocate for women’s rights, spoke passionately at the Oslo Center during the #WordsMatter! Conference. She emphasized, “Hatred must be addressed—and quickly! The leader of a country must be involved. We must do away with ethnicity. Rwanda has done it. President Paul Kagame has done it! We can all do it! When I visited the Kigali Memorial, I signed up as a champion to fight hatred. Yesterday at Utoya Island here in Norway, I again committed to this fight, and I mean it!”
Dr. Joyce Banda made history as Malawi’s first female president and the second in Africa. She is the founder of several organizations, including the Joyce Banda Foundation, the National Association of Business Women (NABW), the Young Women Leaders Network, and the Hunger Project. Her work has earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger.
This conference sought to deepen understanding and awareness of hate speech and its impact on youth while strengthening strategies to prevent and address hate speech, hate crimes, and hate-based violence.
#WordsMatter
