Commissioner: Unacceptable amount of hate speech in public – both from institutions and on national frequencies.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Hate Speech, June 18, Janković emphasized that such hate speech is no longer only present at the margins but, as she warned, it is coming "from podiums, from institutions, from national frequencies," her office announced.

Hate also comes from "profiles with tens of thousands of followers, mostly from those who have public visibility or political influence."

"Almost everyone is targeted: journalists, civil society organizations, activists, the academic community, students, whether they are blocked or opposed, politicians, artists, athletes, those labeled as Nazis, fascists, Ustashas, and so on…," she noted.

According to her, in the cities of Serbia, there are also banners and graffiti "with offensive messages and symbols, such as swastikas and Celtic crosses, Ustasha and other banned symbols."

She stated that every act of targeting, threats, physical attacks, and confrontations, which she mentioned are "often a consequence of such speech," deserves condemnation.

She also reminded that in previous years, the Commissioner’s institution issued over a hundred warnings, filed numerous criminal charges, and initiated strategic lawsuits due to hate speech and degrading and offensive behavior. "The scope and normalization of such speech, the relativization through various spins, as well as the lack of adequate responses and sanctions lead to distrust in institutions and undermine the prohibition of hate speech and degrading and offensive behavior by the Constitution and laws," she emphasized.

She stated that, no matter how difficult the situation is, it can become even worse and lead to unimaginable consequences if everyone does not urgently return to legal frameworks.

According to her, this can happen if a societal consensus on the unacceptability and condemnation of hate speech and all its manifestations that incite intolerance and violence is not achieved.

"Such speech must cease to be part of the linguistic matrix that deeply polarizes society because there is a thin line between hate speech and hate crimes and other forms of physical violence, even conflicts," the Commissioner warned.

She pointed out that the fight against hate speech begins with respect for the law, without exceptions, but, as she noted, no law can replace the human and moral obligation to refrain from communication that incites intolerance, division, creates a degrading and offensive environment, and normalizes discrimination and violence.

"Only genuine dialogue, the rule of law, and respect for human rights lead to a healthier, more tolerant society in which we all feel safe," Janković stated.

Source: Beta