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A senior member of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has called on Libyan officials to exercise caution in their choice of words, warning that careless language could have severe repercussions.

Samira Bousalama, part of UNSMIL's Human Rights team, made the remarks during an online workshop under the “Youth Participate” program, which brought together 24 participants from across Libya to tackle the rising issue of hate speech, particularly on social media.

“Hate speech has become a significant driver of social conflict in Libya,” participants noted, highlighting the fine line between legitimate criticism and language that fuels division. According to the group, sharp polarization in media and online platforms has amplified hate speech and misinformation, further destabilizing the fragile social fabric.

The workshop, which included 13 women and 11 men, stressed the urgency of addressing this growing issue, calling for greater public awareness and responsibility from those in influential positions.

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