At the initiative of Senator Ivan Scalfarotto and in collaboration with the International Committee on Countering Extremist and Hate Speech (ICCEHS), the Italian Senate hosted a press conference yesterday afternoon to mark the United Nations-recognized International Day for Countering Hate Speech, under the title: “Voices Against Hate… Together for Responsible Communication.”
The event, held in the Nassirya Hall at the Italian Senate in Rome, saw the participation of numerous high-level political, parliamentary, diplomatic, and academic figures, as well as religious leaders and civil society activists. It served as an occasion to reaffirm the importance of international solidarity in facing the alarming rise in hate speech and extremist rhetoric amid ongoing global crises and renewed conflicts.
In his speech at the conference, Senator Ivan Scalfarotto stated, “Hate is not an opinion… it is a growing threat to the fabric of our societies… We must confront it with law, education, and awareness.” He added, “Verbal violence is always a prelude to the physical violence we are witnessing today—even on the front pages of newspapers. The level of toxicity in the public climate has become dangerously high.”
Dr. Nidal Shoukeir, Executive Board Director of the ICCEHS, issued a global appeal on this occasion, calling on behalf of the Committee for world leaders to Adopt a culture of responsible communication—one that lays the foundations for lasting peace, mutual respect, and shared understanding. Adopt a discourse that helps resolve conflicts, not ignite them. Use language that preserves our humanity, especially in this fragile and volatile period. “The responsibility today is immense,” he said. “We count on the moral and political responsibility of global leaders to take urgent steps—to say no to hatred, no to extremism, no to division, and to say a resounding yes to tolerance, dialogue, inclusion, mutual recognition—and above all, yes to peace.”
H.E. Gennaro Migliore, Advisory Board Director of ICCEHS, emphasized that Wars, persecutions, genocides: everything begins with words. Underestimating hate speech is a historic mistake that humanity has already paid far too dearly for.” He added, “our goal in the ICCEHS is not just about denouncing hate speech, but to act: to promote inter-religious and intercultural dialogue in order to build antibodies against extremism and hatred, through concrete work in the field and within communities.”
For his part, MP Piero Fassino, Vice President of the Defence Committee in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, stressed that “The violence and incitement occurring globally, particularly in conflict zones, highlight the urgent need for an alternative discourse based on humanity and mutual respect.
Meanwhile, Dr. Massimo Khairallah, Director of International Relations at MED-OR Foundation, warned of “the consequences of hate speech and sectarian or ethnic incitement, which greatly increase our responsibility as intellectuals and decision-makers to embed a culture of peace.” He stressed the importance of collaboration in combating all forms of extremist and hateful rhetoric, particularly in light of its alarming escalation and the crises and wars it continues to fuel around the world.
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