legislative treatment of hate speech at the international and national levels.

Abstract

At the international level, combating hate speech has become a priority in international law, with many international conventions prohibiting hate speech in order to regulate freedom of expression and prevent it from becoming a tool of abuse or incitement. Nationally, however, legislation varies from one country to another depending on legal, political, and cultural contexts. In some countries, hate speech is explicitly criminalized, with severe penalties imposed on violators to protect public order and security. In other countries, priority is given to freedom of expression, and hate speech is only criminalized if it amounts to direct incitement to violence. Many national legal systems address this issue through criminal laws, media laws, or specific legislation, although the methods of application and interpretation may differ significantly according to local context.