Rohit Sharma, Research Scholar at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Dr Ajay Kumar Barnwal, Assistant Professor at Faculty of law, Banaras Hindu University
“Hate speech is in itself an attack on tolerance, inclusion, diversity and very essence of ourhuman rights norms and principles” - Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (18 June 2019)
ABSTRACT
The issue of hate speech has received significant attention from legal scholars and philosophers. The spread of hate speech is a serious threat to communal harmony and national unity in India's diverse social fabric. It will take coordinated efforts to defeat this threat. The present abstract delves into tactics aimed at reducing hate speech in India, stressing the importance of all- encompassing legal structures, strong enforcement protocols, and grassroots endeavors. It is important to create laws that both protect free speech and stop the incitement of violence. These laws should define and punish hate speech. Law enforcement organizations also need to be properly trained and provided with the necessary resources to recognize and handle hate speech incidents. It is imperative to promote inclusivity through education and awareness campaigns in addition to legal measures. Encouraging digital literacy can enable people to identify and respond to hate speech online. Additionally, promoting interfaith discussions and community involvement can create understanding bridges and lessen the environment that fosters hate speech. India can work toward a society that rejects hate speech, embraces diversity, and upholds the values of tolerance and coexistence by fusing legal, educational, and community-driven approaches. In this paper I have attempted to understand the general concept of hate speech. I have discussed the relevant laws related to hate speech. In doing so, I will set outthe recent major incidents happened in India related to it. I have described the factors determining hate speech by perusing different judgements, and move towards the non-legal measures that could be adopted to address the issue of hate speech. At last, I mentioned possible solutions to combat the hate speech in India.
Keywords: Hate speech, gender, free speech, social media, Hate crime, incitement hatred
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