The Human Rights Council has called on governments worldwide to counter the growing trend of “denialism” politics, which often includes refusal to acknowledge genocide and other crimes against humanity.
Independent human rights expert Bernard Duhaime told the council that government officials, politicians and other actors had produced a recent wave of denialist statements worldwide.
Duhaime said countries must actively counter efforts to glorify those responsible for crimes against humanity, particularly given the rise of social media and artificial intelligence systems that amplify denialism.
“We live at a dangerous time where ideologues and warmongers seek to fuel polarisation, hatred and chaos for their own political gains,” he said.
“It is high time to remind them of our collective commitment to human rights, accountability, and the rule of law.”
Duhaime, who works in an independent capacity, is tasked by the Human Rights Council with promoting truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence of crimes.
Delivering his report to the council’s 47 member states, he called on all countries to be vigilant against “politicians and corporate actors who seek to weaponise freedom of expression” and “manipulate history for political or other ideological ends”, while inciting violence and silencing dissenting voices.
Denialism is increasingly used to undermine justice for vulnerable populations by spreading divisive narratives, Duhaime said, adding that the trend risks eroding democratic institutions and accountability by replacing truth with “emotionally-charged narratives”.
Government oversight is key to combating denialism, but in too many cases national legislation has become a tool of restriction and denial, he warned.
“Combating denialism must never serve as a pretext for censorship or repression,” Duhaime told the council.
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