A desumanização do inimigo, discurso de ódio e conflitos armados

Abstract

Freedom of expression as a fundamental human right, established in art. 19 of the UDHR, plays a critical role not only in the proper functioning of the democratic system, but also in the development of the individual and the communities in which he operates. Due to factors such as technological development, with far-reaching consequences for the rapid dissemination of information within and across borders, the manifestation of narratives that amount to hate speech is a frequently highlighted concern by international organizations as it has become increasingly apparent its practical result in social exclusion and, ultimately, in incitement to violence. Such circumstances make evident the restrictions of the right to freedom of expression enshrined both in the UDHR and in the ICCPR. Also noteworthy, as an obstacle to dealing with hate speech at the international level, is the fact that there are divergent opinions as to its definition, and there is no internationally accepted definition of hate speech. The difficulty in defining this concept is reflected in the way international bodies deal with cases related to hate speech. Nowadays, armed conflict scenarios are transformed into exactly what we call hybrid wars and, therefore, the battlefield extends to the communicational plane. The impact of hate speech on advancing political agendas, mobilizing public opinion, and dehumanizing the adversary has never been more apparent than in the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Both parties to the conflict resort to dubious legitimacy narratives either, on the one hand, to dehumanize the adversary and weaken its international trust, or to disseminate information with purposes and objectives of war.

Date of Award	21 Jul 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Azeredo Lopes (Supervisor)