regional and national levels, in order to find possible pathways to engage them in the fight against hate speech targeting minorities on social media. The Chair continued stating that international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society can also play an important role in supporting minorities affected by hate speech, including a preventive role, through gathering knowledge and information and ensuring effective action, including through facilitating or fulfilling the critical need of data collection on the degree to which minorities are targeted on social media by hate speech, including through research and advocacy for combating impunity and calling for accountability. Participants were invited to further discuss the role of international cooperation and the sharing of best practices in the effective implementation of international and regional instruments on the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities. In addition, participants were called to address the important role of a new generation of young digital citizens and of new tools and platforms, as well as the need to empower minorities to stand up to hate speech. Participants were also expected to discuss the role of other stakeholders, including religious leaders and faith actors; and consider the Beirut Declaration on Faith for Rights and its 18 commitments as well as the #Faith4Rights toolkit. Presentations on the topic under discussion were made by the following panellists: Mr. Thomas Hughes, Director, Facebook Oversight Board Administration; Mr. Andre Oboler, Social media and online public diplomacy expert and Managing Director, Online Hate Prevention Institute; and Mr. Jerald Joseph, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Mr. Thomas Hughes, Director, Facebook Oversight Board Administration focused his intervention on the Oversight Board of Facebook which aims to have a positive impact on the way social media and corporate actors work to create safe spaces online. Mr. Hughes explained that the Oversight Board of Facebook is a new body comprised of independent Members from around the world that will make binding decisions on what content Facebook and Instagram should allow or remove, based on respect for freedom of expression and human rights. He added that the Board is a deliberative body and that its relevance and impact will be on the cases it hears and the quality of its decisions. He mentioned that the Board would address some of the most significant content moderation decisions on Facebook and Instagram that are referred by both users and Facebook. This will encompass hate speech and incitement to discrimination or violence, potentially including minorities. Mr. Hughes stated that freedom of expression will have a central role, as well as principles of equality and non-discrimination and that the UN’s Rabat Plan of Action will be helpful for guiding approaches. He added that the Board aims to follow an inclusive strategy 19