Why Hate Speech Is a Barrier to Women, Peace and Security

Imagine scrolling through your social media feed and coming across a post filled with derogatory comments targeting a specific gender, race, or religion. For many, these words go beyond mere insults—they are threatening and create a hostile environment that can have real-world consequences. 

Unfortunately, such incidents are not isolated. They are a daily reality for many individuals, particularly women, who face a barrage of hate speech online.

Hate speech is a complex concept generally referring to expressions that vilify, degrade, or incite hatred against individuals or groups. It goes beyond offensive or distasteful speech and aims to marginalize the targeted individuals or communities.

June 18 is the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about the dangers of hate speech and promote strategies to counter it. This day serves as a reminder of the global commitment to combat hate speech and its repercussions, emphasizing the need for collective action to achieve a world where respect for human dignity prevails.

The Anti-Defamation League's 2023 study, "Online Hate and Harassment: The American Experience," found that 41% of Americans have experienced online harassment, with women and minorities disproportionately affected. 

Disproportionate Impact on Women Politicians

Online platforms, which should serve as spaces for democratic engagement and discourse, often become arenas for gender-based violence. When hate speech is increasingly enabled by technology, it is considered a form of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Alarmingly, women politicians face a barrage of online abuse that is often more intense and personal than that directed at their male counterparts. A report by the United Nations Broadband Commission reveals that 38% of women globally have experienced online violence, with women in politics being a primary target.

This is not an isolated case in the US. A study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union found that 81.8% of women parliamentarians have experienced psychological violence, including online harassment, and 65.5% have faced sexist or humiliating remarks.

In Kyrgyzstan, 13% of gender intolerance in the form of hate speech occurred during pre-election discussions and 10.5% during the presidential campaign. Meanwhile, in India, women politicians receive an average of 113 hostile or abusive tweets per day. 

The impact of TFGBV on women politicians is undeniably profound. It creates a hostile environment that discourages women from entering or remaining in politics. The constant threat of online abuse can lead to psychological distress, reduced public engagement, and even withdrawal from political life. In Ireland, more than nine out of ten female politicians reported receiving abusive messages, with one in five considering quitting politics due to online harassment.

Ultimately, this has broader implications for democratic processes. When women are disincentivized from participating in politics, it undermines the representation of diverse voices and perspectives, which is essential for a healthy democracy.

Not only that, but the broader issue of TFGBV extends beyond individual politicians to affect women's political participation online more generally. Women who engage in political discussions or activism online are also frequently targeted with hate speech, threats, and disinformation, which creates a chilling effect where women are deterred from participating in online political discourse due to fear of harassment and abuse.

Combating Hate Speech Through the Women, Peace and Security Agenda

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is built on inclusion, equality, and recognizing women's roles in peacebuilding and security. Hate speech undermines these principles by creating division and an environment of fear. This proves the urgent need to address hate speech as a barrier to achieving the WPS agenda.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres states, "There is no acceptable level of hate speech. We must all work to eradicate it completely." He adds that it seriously impacts the UN’s efforts to promote peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.

Our Secure Future (OSF) recognizes the critical need to address hate speech to guarantee women's full participation in peace and security efforts. Tackling hate speech head-on enables a more secure world where women's contributions to peace and security are recognized and valued.

The Impact of Hate Speech on Women

A report by UN Women highlights that online hate speech and misogyny have dramatically increased since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the FBI's 2022 hate crime statistics reveal a dramatic rise in hate crimes based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The Association of War Affected Women, Sri Lanka, a distinguished Partner for Women, Peace and Security award recipient by OSF, cited that hate speech in the pandemic targeted marginalized communities such as Muslims, further exacerbating social tensions and instability. 

Gendered hate speech often takes on specific forms, such as threats of sexual violence, body shaming, and derogatory comments about women's roles and capabilities. These attacks are designed to silence women and reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. OSF's report, "Women, Peace & Security, and the Digital Ecosystem," shows that the digital ecosystem also reflects and amplifies existing gender inequalities, making it hostile for women. 

Hate speech also contributes to the destabilization of communities by inciting violence and creating an atmosphere of fear. The Leadership Conference Education Fund's "Cause for Concern 2024: The State of Hate" report indicates that hate crimes have increased by more than 80% since 2015, with significant spikes during election periods, highlighting the cyclical nature of hate speech and violence against marginalized, vulnerable groups, including women.

Our Secure Future’s Efforts to Counter Hate Speech

Empowering Women as Agents of Change: OSF emphasizes the role of women and mothers as crucial players in the fight against online violence and hate speech. Women can become essential agents of change by taking advantage of their unique positions as confidantes and influencers in families and communities.

More information: Families in the Digital Age

Promoting Digital Literacy: Equipping women with digital skills is essential to combating online hate speech. OSF's initiatives focus on enhancing women's digital literacy to help them effectively counteract harmful online content. OSF aims to provide women with the tools and knowledge to identify and respond to hate speech.

More information: Women, Peace & Security, And The Digital Ecosystem: Five Emerging Trends In the Technology And Gender Policy Landscape

Advocacy and Policy Influence: OSF influences policy by advocating for the inclusion of gender perspectives in technology governance and peace and security frameworks. This includes addressing the gender biases embedded in algorithms and promoting gender-sensitive digital spaces. Additionally, OSF supports developing and implementing National Action Plans (NAPs) that address hate speech, such as the NAP for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes specific measures to counter hate speech as part of its broader WPS strategy.

More information: Action Plan for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 “Women, Peace and Security” in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2018-2022

Collaborative Efforts: OSF collaborates with various stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, and civil society, to develop comprehensive strategies to counter hate speech. Supporting initiatives that create a more coordinated and effective response to hate speech allows women's voices to be heard in peace and security efforts.

The Urgent Need for Collective Action

Hate speech is a significant barrier to the WPS agenda, as it results in gender-based violence and the destabilization of communities. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach. 

The International Day for Countering Hate Speech reminds us of our commitment to combating hate speech and its repercussions. As the world observes this day, let us reaffirm our dedication to the WPS agenda by addressing hate speech in all its forms. By doing so, we can create a world where women's contributions to peace and security are recognized and valued.