Partners for Transparency has released a new report, “Hate Speech Against Refugees and Migrants: Challenges and Solutions,” which highlights the rise of this disturbing phenomenon and its negative impact on social cohesion and global peace.

The report revealed that refugees and migrants have become targets of hate speech fueled by negative perceptions and media and political misinformation, which has led to an exacerbation of hostility and violence against them in various countries around the world.

She called on partners to strengthen local and international legal frameworks to combat this phenomenon, and to apply strict penalties on individuals and institutions that promote hate speech. She also stressed the need to introduce legal reforms that ensure a balance between protecting freedom of expression and preventing incitement to hatred, in addition to launching awareness and educational campaigns to promote tolerance and coexistence among different societies.

The Foundation urged monitoring of media and political discourse to ensure that migrants and refugees are not exploited as a tool for political propaganda, and called for urgent steps to protect them from becoming victims of systematic violence.

Commenting on the report, Mirna Shalash, President of Partners Foundation, stressed, “It is time to take decisive action to protect vulnerable groups of migrants and refugees, and prevent hatred from turning into systematic violence that threatens world peace.” She called for the need to involve all parties, including governments, media, and civil society organizations, to ensure a safe and hate-free environment.