Kathmandu, June 24
Stakeholders have stressed the need for joint efforts among all aspects of society to combat hate speech in Nepal.
In an interaction organised in Kathmandu on Thursday on the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, the stakeholders said hatred in people’s expressions is increasing parallel to the availability of the internet in Nepali society, hence cross-sector efforts are a must to deal with them.
The United Nations Office in Nepal organised the event in partnership with Yuwalaya, a youth-led NGO.
The speakers were UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Richard Howard, National Information Commissioner Kamala Oli Thapa, digital rights activist Santosh Sigdel, queer rights activist Shailee Chaudhary, singer Sambriddhi Rai, police officer Suraksha KC and journalist Umesh Shrestha.
Other participants also stressed the need for effective implementation of the related laws and expansion of awareness and education to tackle the issue, according to Yuwalaya president Santosh Maharjan.
The UN has been observing June 18 of every year as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech as a related strategy and a plan of action was launched in 2019 on the same day.
