As Sudan continues to navigate the challenges of conflict, displacement, and social division, the power of words has never been more important. Every conversation, every post, and every piece of information shared has the potential to shape perceptions, influence communities, and contribute either to social cohesion or to further polarization.
In today’s digital environment, hate speech can spread rapidly across online platforms, amplified by social media, algorithms, and emerging technologies. Its impacts extend far beyond the digital sphere, undermining trust, weakening social cohesion, fueling tensions, and threatening human rights and inclusive participation.
On the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to promoting dialogue, information integrity, and peaceful societies through education, media and information literacy, and a human rights-based approach that safeguards freedom of expression while addressing the harmful effects of hate speech and misinformation.
Countering hate speech requires more than moderation and regulation alone. It requires prevention, education, critical thinking, and empowering citizens and vulnerable communities to engage with information responsibly and meaningfully. Through its work with governments, educators, researchers, journalists, media professionals, youth, and digital platforms, UNESCO aims at countering hate speech within Sudan’s diverse communities and reaches vulnerable societies to supports efforts that strengthen resilience against hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation while fostering informed and active citizenship.
In Sudan, these efforts are particularly important. Journalists, content creators, teachers, youth, community leaders, and citizens all have a role to play in promoting responsible communication and ensuring that information shared within communities is accurate, verified, and respectful.
Before sharing information, UNESCO encourages everyone to pause and ask:
- Is the source reliable?
- Are the facts verified?
- Could these words harm someone or contribute to division?
Through critical thinking, responsible communication, and constructive dialogue, individuals can help build a more informed, inclusive, and peaceful society.
To further support these efforts, UNESCO is launching a new Issue Brief on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) to Counter Hate Speech in the Digital Age, highlighting practical approaches to strengthening resilience against harmful content while promoting information integrity and digital citizenship.
As Sudan continues its path towards recovery and peace, choosing truth over rumors, dialogue over hostility, and unity over hate remains a shared responsibility.
Because every word matters. Every voice matters. And every action can contribute to building a more peaceful Sudan.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/international-day-countering-hate-speech-promoting-dialogue-information-integrity-and-social?hub=701
