There is currently no universal definition of hate speech under international human rights law. The concept remains under discussion, particularly concerning freedom of opinion and expression, non-discrimination, and equality.
In common usage, hate speech refers to offensive discourse that targets a group or individual based on inherent characteristics such as race, religion, nationality, or gender, posing a potential threat to social harmony.
Hate speech is often discriminatory, exhibiting bias, bigotry, or intolerance, and can display prejudice, contempt, or disdain towards an individual or group.
Hate speech targets both real and perceived identity factors, including religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, and gender. It also includes characteristics such as language, economic or social origin, disability, health status, sexual orientation, and many others.
This type of speech can be
conveyed through various forms of expression, including images, cartoons, memes, objects, gestures, and symbols, and can spread both offline and online.
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