On Saturday, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, called on all Libyans to stand united against those who spread hate speech and incite violence in the North African country.
These remarks came n the occasion of the International Day to Combat Hate Speech.
Stephanie said in a tweet, “hate is a destructive tool that destroys the social fabric in any society. We must not tolerate those who spread hate speech and incite violence in Libya.”
“Let us stand united in the face of this deadly scourge that threatens peace and stability in the country,” Williams added.
On the 21st of July 2021, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the 18th of June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, to be observed annually.
In Libya, hate speech has been used to polarise, divide, destroy and vilify. As the world observes this important day today, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemns hate speech and reaffirms its commitment to championing the right of all people to peacefully express their views.
Egypt is currently hosting the third and last round of UN-sponsored talks between lawmakers from Libya’s East-based Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS), an advisory body from western Libya to put their disputes aside and agree on the election’s legal basis.
Libyans are still waiting for the stalled polls to take place in the hope that the vote will contribute to ending years of armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country.
The talks in Cairo come a few weeks after brief clashes took place between rival forces in Tripoli as Libyan Parliament-appointed Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha attempted to enter the capital, the seat of his rival Prime Minister Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba.
Williams said that talks in a Cairo hotel will continue until June 19th with the aim of establishing a constitutional framework “required to take the country to national elections as soon as possible.”