Countering Anti-Migrant Narratives: The Role of Local and Regional Governments
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Description
Countering Anti-Migrant Narratives: The Role of Local and
Regional Governments
| In an increasingly polarized global context, the proliferation of hate speech, xenophobia, disinformation, and dehumanizing and harmful narratives about migration and people on the move poses a critical threat to human rights, social cohesion, and the safety of migrants and refugees. Building upon the summary report of the intersessional panel on the human rights of migrants and Human Rights Council Resolution 57/14, hate speech and harmful narratives targeting people on the move have been identified as major challenges requiring urgent, coordinated and broad stakeholder responses. Furthermore, the use of digital technologies and social media platforms has amplified xenophobic rhetoric, enabling disinformation and harmful narratives to spread faster and reach broader audiences than ever before.
Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) are uniquely positioned in upholding rightsbased and people-centred migration governance. As the level of governance closest to people, and given their involvement in areas such as education, media literacy, community engagement and provision of public services, LRGs hold an important role in fostering inclusive communities, managing access to services, including integration, and counteracting discrimination and hateful rhetoric. In line with Human Rights Council resolutions highlighting the role of local governments in the promotion and protection of human rights (such as Resolution 57/12), engaging regional and local authorities is vital to building resilient, human-rights-based responses to hate speech, disinformation and harmful narratives targeting migrants and refugees. This event also aligns with the OHCHR Global Alliance for Human Rights, which highlights local and regional governments as key actors in advancing human rights and inclusive societies. |
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Date: 30 September 2026
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Side event organized by the Regional Government of Catalonia and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. The side event is co-sponsored by Ecuador, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Council of Europe – Intercultural Cities Programme, Civil Society Action Committee, Global Cities Hub and United Cities and Local Government.
🎯 Objectives
- Analyze the drivers of hate speech and anti-migrant narratives, considering for instance, political polarization and the impact of digital technologies on public discourse.
- Highlight innovative practices, public campaigns, and policy tools developed by local and regional authorities to counter anti-migrant rhetoric and promote social cohesion. Also, discuss the main challenges and solutions faced by the different levels of administration.
- Advance multi-stakeholder dialogue among LRGs, Member States, the UN system, civil society and other stakeholders to build joint strategies against harmful narratives on migration.
🎙️ Speakers
- H.E. Mr. Marcos Gómez Martínez, Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN in Geneva
- H.E. Mr Fernando Israel Espinosa Olivera, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the UN in Geneva
- David Moya, Director General for Migration, Regional Government of Catalonia
- Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council
- Roukayatou Abdoulaye, Liaison Officer – Immigration Portfolio Manager, City of Sherbrooke
- Conleth Burns, Associate Director, More in Common
- Anh Thu Duong, Co-Director Policy and Partnership, Global Cities Hub
- Ana Calvete, Head of Research, United Cities and Local Government
Moderated by Carolina Hernandez, Advisor on Migration and Human Rights, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Online participation
You can follow the event online.
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