A No Hate Speech campaign was launched this morning by the American Embassy, Aġenzija Zghazagh and SOS Malta.

Posters pointing out that hate speech is a crime and raising awareness about its consequences are being put up on bus stop shelters in English and Maltese.

Speaking at the Umberto Colosso school in Santa Venera, Miriam Teuma, CEO of Aġenzija Zghazagh said Valentine’s Day was a day when many sent out messages of love, however language was used and abused by others during the rest of the year.

“Hate speech has no place in public and private Maltese life,” she said, encouraging students to promote the campaign.

SOS Malta CEO Claudia Taylor East urged businesses to join the campaign as the entities wanted to develop online blogging against hate speech.

Together we can counteract discrimination, hate speech and ultimately hate crime. Let’s make an impact for the most vulnerable, she said.

Also present for the launch were US ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley and Youth Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Buontempo.