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Conclusion: Harms, Dignity, and to issues concerning the freedom of
Priority
expression, they may be more permis-
There is much literature on hate
speech and the harms associated with sive of speech that may be consid-
it. Of these harms are the silencing of
the targets of hate speech, psycho- ered hateful, whereas others consider
logical distress, social harms, harms
to dignity, the maintenance of power that other forms of harm that are
imbalances in soci etl, the normaliza- not physical violence are equally as
tion of discrimination, harmful con-
duct as a result of believing negarive important, both seeing that they are
stereotypes, and more.(') lndeed, in protecting human rights in this way.
some Iibera! democracies, restric- It can be argued that the very idea of
tions made upon freedom of expres- human rights is based upon the fun-
sion are justified on the basis of the damental idea of the inherent dignity
respect of human dignity and/or the that each human being possesses by
avoidance of harm. These provisions virtue of being human. lndeed, Arti-
cle 1 of the Universal Declaration of
can be found in the Cerman basic law Human Rights states that, "All human
(Article 1.1), Finland (Finnish Penal
Code, Chapter 11, Section 8), Sweden beings are born free and equal in dig-
(Swedish Penal Code), and the United nity and rights." Moreover, the 2018
Kingdom (Public Order Act 1986, Sec-
tions 17 and 18; Racial and Religious Punta del Este Declaration on Hu-
Hatred Act 2006), among orhers.
man Dignity for Everyone Everywhere
ln each of these societies, attempts states that human dignity "emphasiz-
es the uniqueness and irreplaceability
are made to balance between indi-
of every human being that it implies
vidual freedoms and cohesion within a right of each individual to find and
civil society. States prioritize certain
values and principles over orhers in define the meanings of his or her own
constructing their laws. Where socie-
ties favor a more libertarian approach Iife; that it presupposes respecr for
1-Katharine Celber and Luke McNamara, pluralism and difference; and that it
"Evidencing the Harms of Hate Speech,"
carries with it the responsibility ro
Social ldentitie s 22, no. 3 (2016): 325.
honor the dignity of everyon.."(z) ln-
deed, coming together for common
normative projects must be based
upon the respect of the dign ity of
2- Punta del Este Declaration on Human
Dig-ty for Everyone Everywhere: Seventy
Years After the Universal Declaration on
Human Rights, Decemb er 2018, Preamble
Dr. Jinan Bastaki
