The United Nations Security Council made history today by adopting a groundbreaking resolution, co-drafted by the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, focusing on tolerance and its crucial role in international peace and security. The resolution marks a significant milestone as it recognizes the potential of hate speech and extremism to fuel conflicts.
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized the importance of practicing tolerance and peaceful coexistence, aligning with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. She stated, “This resolution reaffirms our commitment to upholding universal principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. These principles, along with human rights and gender equality, are not competing interests but mutually reinforcing. They should be promoted and implemented to achieve peace, security, stability, and sustainable development.”
Resolution 2686, titled “Tolerance and International Peace and Security,” stands out for its recognition that racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination can contribute to the initiation, escalation, and recurrence of conflicts. It sets a precedent by urging the public condemnation of violence, hate speech, and extremism.
The resolution further encourages various stakeholders, including religious and community leaders, media outlets, and social media platforms, to actively address hate speech and extremism, recognizing their potential to worsen armed conflicts. It emphasizes the role these stakeholders play in preventing the negative impacts of hate speech and extremism on peace and security.
In addition, the resolution requests that UN peacekeeping and political missions closely monitor hate speech, racism, and acts of extremism that undermine peace and security. It calls for the Secretary-General to provide updates on the implementation of the resolution by June 14, 2024, and to promptly inform the Security Council of any threats to international peace and security related to the resolution.