UN takes aim at Trump and others over 'dehumanising' hate speech towards immigrants

Open letter from human rights investigators castigates leaders stoking ethnic hatred for political gain

The UN human rights investigators issued the letter shortly before world leaders arrive for the UN's general assembly in New York (iStock)

A group of leading UN officials have taken a veiled swipe at Donald Trump and other populist leaders and called for an end to “dehumanising hate speech” against migrants and ethnic minorities.

An open letter signed by more than 20 UN human rights special rapporteurs has warned “leaders, senior government officials, politicians and other prominent figures [are] spreading fear among the public against migrants or those seen as ‘the others’, for their own political gain”.

This kind of demonisation and stoking up of ethnic tension has led to violence and “catastrophic tragedies” in the past, the letter cautions.

Although the group do not name any particular politicians, the communique is likely to be interpreted as veiled criticism of Mr Trump ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week.

Hate speech from prominent public figures has already led to deadly attacks on immigrants and minorities around the world, the UN rapporteurs said, adding academic studies have shown a correlation between exposure to hate speech and a rise in hate crimes.

Furthermore, there has also been a rise in “hateful” calls to limit the human rights of LGBT+ people.

“We call on public officials and politicians, as well as the media, to assume their collective responsibility to promote societies that are tolerant and inclusive.”

Mr Trump infamously began his presidential campaign by attacking Mexican immigrants as rapists, drug dealers and criminals, and has regularly hit the headlines since taking office due to derogatory remarks aimed at minorities.

Last year, his spokeswoman did not deny reports the president had questioned why the US allowed immigrants from “s***hole countries” such as Haiti, El Salvador and African nations during a White House meeting.

The Trump administration has also stopped co-operating with UN human rights investigators over potential violations inside the United States and pulled America out of the UN’s Human Rights Council.

In July, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the refugee camps set up to detain children and adults crossing the US-Mexico border as “undignified and damaging”.

There has also been a notable increase in divisive rhetoric beyond the US: in Israel the long-serving prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to whip up his right-wing base with loaded remarks about high Arab turnout in the recent elections, while China has demonised much of its Muslim Uighur population as potential Islamist terrorists.

“[Leaders] must refrain from any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,” the open letter concludes.

“They should also denounce swiftly those who incite hatred against migrants, minorities, or other vulnerable groups.”