Mr. President, 

June 18 is the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech designated by the General Assembly resolution. Hate speech, the incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, often leads to political tensions and even aggravates armed conflict. We should, regardless of the circumstances, condemn and put an end to discrimination and violence against specific countries, ethnic groups, and religions, make every effort to dispel hatred, division, and distrust, and advocate a culture of peace underpinned by reason, inclusivity, and solidarity. 

Mr. President,

The conflict in Ukraine has lasted for nearly four months. The rising casualties and displacements are heart-wrenching. The international humanitarian law has laid out the boundaries for wartime violence, that all parties to the conflict should earnestly uphold by ensuring maximum protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and facilitating evacuation and humanitarian access. The international community and humanitarian agencies should continue to scale up humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, and spare no effort to mitigate the harm caused by violent conflicts. The circumstances and causes of violations of international humanitarian law must be ascertained. Any allegations should be based on facts. Pending the final findings, all parties should avoid unwarranted accusations. 

Sending in more lethal weapons will only fuel animosity, exacerbate conflicts, trigger a wider humanitarian crisis, and claim more innocent lives. Social media must never become a lawless space for spreading hatred and inciting violence. Certain social media platforms have adapted their policies for political ends, allowing one-way hate speech. Such a practice is extremely dangerous. It is imperative to strengthen government oversight of social media platforms. They should not be given a free rein. 

Prolonged and enlarged conflicts will bring greater security risks and spillover effects, from which no party can benefit. The international community should work together to de-escalate the situation, put out the fire, and facilitate peace talks, thus creating conditions for the parties to resume negotiations and achieve a ceasefire without further delay. We advise certain countries not to continue adding fuel to the fire to serve their own geopolitical self interest, not to mention force other countries to take sides, thereby intensifying division and antagonism within the international community. 

Mr. President, 

As Secretary-General Guterres noted in his speech marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, “hate speech incites violence, undermines diversity and social cohesion, and threatens the common values and principles that bind us together”. Hate speech between countries can also poison the international political climate to the detriment of world peace and stability. 

For some while, with the conflict in Ukraine unraveling, antagonism has been permeating the international community, seriously disrupting the work of the UN in various fields, and calling into question the authority and effectiveness of this Council. Such a political climate is not conducive to the proper settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and may lead to the failure of global governance mechanisms, plunging the world into greater division and turmoil, which is not in the interest of any party. 

We are all in the same boat. Our security is indivisible. The Cold-War mentality, the logic of hegemony, and bloc politics have long outlived their relevance. We must substitute dialogue for confrontation, consultation for coercion, partnership for alliances, and win-win for zero sum. The Security Council, in particular, should shoulder its responsibilities, manage differences, and be an active force for the facilitation of peace talks, mediation, and good offices. 

Thank you, Mr. President.