International Day for Countering Hate Speech2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/75/309
About International Day for Countering Hate Speech
International Day for Countering Hate Speech is observed on 18 June. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day through resolution A/RES/75/309 in 2021, and the first observance was marked in 2022.
The observance focuses on recognizing and responding to hate speech while protecting human rights, including freedom of opinion and expression. It is best treated as an education, prevention and solidarity observance rather than as a licence to label every disagreement or offensive statement as unlawful speech.
Why International Day for Countering Hate Speech matters
The United Nations treats hate speech as a serious concern because dehumanizing and discriminatory rhetoric can deepen exclusion, intensify hostility and contribute to violence against targeted people and communities.
Countering hate speech can include education, media and information literacy, responsible public communication, support for targeted communities, counter-speech and proportionate responses to credible threats. The UN Strategy and Plan of Action frames this work alongside respect for freedom of expression and opinion.
History of International Day for Countering Hate Speech
On 18 June 2019, the UN Secretary-General launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.
On 21 July 2021, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/309 on promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech. Morocco introduced the underlying draft resolution A/75/L.115.
The resolution designated 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. United Nations sources identify 18 June 2022 as the first observance.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Morocco
Morocco introduced draft resolution A/75/L.115 in the General Assembly; the draft and sponsor record led to resolution A/RES/75/309.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/309
First documented observance
UN first-observance material states that the International Day was marked for the first time in 2022.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day for Countering Hate Speech
Use a classroom, workplace or community discussion to distinguish criticism, disagreement, stereotypes, dehumanizing rhetoric, harassment and direct threats instead of treating them as one category.
Create a media-literacy exercise that checks the source, context and likely reach of inflammatory claims before sharing or responding to them.
Develop counter-speech or bystander-support material that corrects false claims without unnecessarily repeating or amplifying abusive language.
Review reporting, moderation or safeguarding procedures for credible threats and targeted harassment while keeping legitimate debate and expression protected.
International Day for Countering Hate Speech Facts
The observance falls on 18 June each year.
The establishing instrument is UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/309, adopted on 21 July 2021.
The date connects directly to the launch of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech on 18 June 2019.
The first International Day for Countering Hate Speech was observed in 2022.
United Nations guidance places action against hate speech within a human-rights framework that includes freedom of opinion and expression.
International Day for Countering Hate Speech Messages
May International Day for Countering Hate Speech encourage thoughtful participation, shared responsibility and action that continues after the observance ends.
Wishing everyone observing International Day for Countering Hate Speech a day of reflection, constructive dialogue and purposeful follow-through.
On International Day for Countering Hate Speech, may awareness lead to informed discussion, practical action and respect for the communities at the heart of the observance.
International Day for Countering Hate Speech Quotes
“States have clear obligations under international law to combat incitement to hatred, and to promote inclusion, respect for diversity and solidarity.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/75/309 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — General Assembly action on A/75/L.115 / A/RES/75/309 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day for Countering Hate Speech (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
United Nations in India — first International Day for Countering Hate Speech (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for Countering Hate Speech?
18 June The documented recurrence rule is: 18 June.
Does International Day for Countering Hate Speech fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day for Countering Hate Speech an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day for Countering Hate Speech?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Morocco.
Is International Day for Countering Hate Speech international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is International Day for Countering Hate Speech on 18 June?
The date builds on 18 June 2019, when the UN Secretary-General launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. The General Assembly later designated 18 June as the annual international day.
When was the day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/309 on 21 July 2021, and the first observance took place on 18 June 2022.
Does countering hate speech mean banning every offensive opinion?
No. The UN framework addresses hate speech while also emphasizing respect for freedom of opinion and expression. A careful observance should distinguish harmful or threatening conduct from lawful disagreement and controversial speech.
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