Morocco’s Unwavering Commitment Against Hate Speech

Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Omar Hilale, reaffirmed the country's steadfast commitment under the visionary leadership of King Mohammed VI to promoting peace and coexistence while combating all forms of hate speech. Speaking at a high-level event in New York, co-hosted by Morocco’s UN mission and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention, Ambassador Hilale emphasized Morocco’s ongoing efforts on the fourth International Day to Combat Hate Speech, which this year focused on the connection between hate speech and artificial intelligence.

He quoted King Mohammed VI’s message from the June 2023 Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, highlighting the importance of fostering communication and mutual understanding among diverse religious communities to nurture tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Aligned with the King’s directives, Morocco has implemented a comprehensive, multi-layered approach combining legal frameworks, institutional oversight, ethical guidelines, educational initiatives, and technical measures. These efforts ensure responsible use of AI while safeguarding privacy, human rights, and digital trust to effectively fight hate speech.

Ambassador Hilale also stressed the crucial role of implementing key UN frameworks aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and combating hate speech, such as the Rabat Plan of Action, the Fez Plan of Action, and the UN Strategy and Plan of Action against Hate Speech. These initiatives, many of which Morocco helped introduce, have been pivotal in the global fight against hate speech.

The International Day to Combat Hate Speech was proclaimed unanimously by the UN General Assembly in 2021, following Morocco’s proposal. The event featured messages from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for partnerships across governments, civil society, private sector, and religious leaders to silence hate voices, and from the UN General Assembly President, Philémon Yang, who underscored the historic and ongoing dangers of hate speech.

The UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Moratinos, praised Morocco’s ongoing leadership in promoting interfaith dialogue and multicultural coexistence, noting these efforts as strategic imperatives for peace, resilience, and sustainable development. He highlighted the significance of the 9th UNAOC Global Forum hosted by Morocco in Fez as a powerful symbol of cultural and religious diversity.

The high-level event attracted many UN diplomats and officials, as well as representatives from digital companies, academia, and civil society. All praised Morocco’s key role in addressing hate speech, especially in the digital realm where misuse of artificial intelligence has amplified such discourse. The day reinforced the importance of building coalitions among all stakeholders to reclaim safe, inclusive spaces and societies free from hate.

This event solidified Morocco’s position, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty the King, as a regional and international model in combating hate speech and promoting values of coexistence and dialogue worldwide.