United Nations Guidance Note on Addressing and Countering COVID-19 related Hate Speech

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen demonstrations of overwhelming solidarity between nations and communities working together to address the impact and challenges it poses. Unfortunately, the pandemic has also given rise to a new wave of hate speech and discrimination. ‘COVID-19 related hate speech’ encompasses a broad range of disparaging expressions against certain individuals and groups that has emerged or been exacerbated as a result of the

new coronavirus disease outbreak – from scapegoating, stereotyping, stigmatization and the use of derogatory, misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic or antisemitic language. Closely linked to this is the dissemination of ‘disinformation’ or ‘misinformation’ related to COVID-19.¹