Rights for Peace Oral Statement to be delivered at the 13th Session of the Forum on Minority Issues 2020 Towards a safer space for minorities – positive initiatives to address online hate speech: the role of national human rights institutions, human rights organizations, civil society and other stakeholders Thank you Madame Chairperson, distinguished delegates: Rights for Peace welcomes the attention that the Forum and the Special Rapporteur is dedicating to the issue of ‘hate speech’, xenophobic rhetoric and incitement to hatred against minorities. As a non-profit working to prevent mass atrocities in fragile states, we see the prevalence of hate speech and racist propaganda as a marker of escalating human rights violations. As put by Sheri Rosenberg, “The Holocaust did not start with the gas chambers. It started with hate speech.” Hate speech is an important indicator of bias intent. In order to prevent and punish the steps that lead to genocide, we believe it is important to connect hateful intent with wider violations. The theme of this Forum could not be more timely. The Black Lives Matter movement has shown us that negative portrayal and persecution of minority groups is easily exacerbated by extremist ideology about identity and superiority. Hate speech against minorities on social media is a disturbing amplification of discrimination and incitement that has become increasingly normalised offline. Rights for Peace works with partners on the ground undertaking training, monitoring, and reporting on hate-based violations. In our recent work, we have found two key challenges: 1. There is a widespread need to increase understanding of prejudice and identity to build local resilience to bias, and reinforce the capacities of those who are able to speak out; 2. There is a need to hold publicly to account those who incite discrimination, hostility and violence. At the same time, there is underinvestment in prevention work, and front line activism.