Omar Hilale: Morocco’s Commitment Against Hate Speech is Constant and Unwavering

Mr. Hilale was speaking at a high-level event co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the UN and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention, marking the 4th International Day for Countering Hate Speech under the theme: “The Link Between Hate Speech and Artificial Intelligence.”

In this context, the ambassador recalled a passage from the message addressed by His Majesty the King to participants of the Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, held in June 2023, where the Sovereign stated:

“The bleak portrait of a world shaped by a clash of beliefs should not obscure a brighter reality: the bold initiatives that aim to foster communication and interaction among members of the international community and followers of different faiths, thus nurturing a spirit of tolerance and mutual understanding — the ideal of living together.”

Mr. Hilale further emphasized that, in accordance with the High Royal Guidelines, Morocco has adopted a robust, multi-level approach combining legal regulation, institutional oversight, ethical alignment, educational programs, and technical deployment to responsibly harness artificial intelligence. This approach aims to uphold privacy, human rights, and digital trust while countering hate speech.

The ambassador also underscored the vital importance of effectively implementing the UN’s doctrinal framework for promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue and combating hate speech. These include the “Rabat Plan of Action,” the “Fez Plan of Action,” the “UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech,” and all relevant UN resolutions — many of which were initiated by Morocco.

The commemoration of this International Day, as proclaimed by UN General Assembly Resolution 75/309 — unanimously adopted in July 2021 at Morocco’s initiative — featured a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He emphasized the importance of building partnerships at all levels — between governments, civil society, private companies, and religious and community leaders — to silence voices of hatred.

“We must counter toxic narratives with positive messages and empower people to recognize, reject, and fight hate speech,” said Guterres.

UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang also warned in his opening remarks that, “throughout history, hate speech has fueled violence, exclusion, and even atrocities.” He stressed that the General Assembly has been at the forefront of fighting this scourge, recognizing hate speech as a global issue that violates universal values of tolerance and diversity and “cannot be justified.”

UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Moratinos, praised the efforts of Member States — particularly Morocco — for their ongoing defense of interfaith dialogue and multicultural coexistence at national and international levels.

“These efforts show that promoting harmony is not a soft ideal — it is a strategic imperative for peace, resilience, and sustainable development,” Moratinos said, recalling that the 9th UNAOC Global Forum, hosted by Morocco in the historic city of Fez, was a powerful symbol of cultural and religious diversity as it ought to be.

This high-level event was attended by numerous ambassadors to the UN and featured remarks by senior UN officials, including the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the UN Envoy on Technology, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, along with representatives from tech companies, academics, and civil society actors.

All speakers praised Morocco’s leadership and key role in the global fight against hate speech — especially in the digital space, where the misuse of artificial intelligence is amplifying such messages. They underscored the importance of forming inclusive coalitions with all stakeholders to reclaim safe spaces and build hate-free societies.

The organization of this high-level event reaffirmed Morocco’s standing, under the enlightened guidance of His Majesty the King, as a regional and international reference in the fight against hate speech. It also reflected broad recognition of the Kingdom’s consistent efforts to promote the values of coexistence, peaceful living, and dialogue on a global scale.

Editorial team/le7tv