Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 25th Jan. UNESCO on Wednesday has highlighted the key role teachers can play in curbing the rise of hate speech globally.
UNESCO marked the International Day of Education said that education and classroom teaching in particular are pivotal to countering narratives that fuel prejudice, discrimination, and violence.
According to UNESCO, a study conducted in 16 countries last year revealed that 67 per cent of Internet users have encountered hate speech online.
Some 85 per cent of respondents expressed concern about the impact of disinformation.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the urgent need to prioritize education as a tool to promote the values of human dignity and peace.
She added that “if hatred starts with words, peace starts with education”.
“What we learn changes how we view the world and influences how we treat others”, she continued.
The agency organized a one-day online training for thousands of teachers to address this pressing concern.
The workshop equipped educators with tools to identify, confront, and prevent hate speech incidents.
UNESCO brought together ministers, academic leaders and educators from around the globe at an event in New York to discuss the role education can play in achieving sustainable global peace.
