Brussels, June 14, 2025
In an atmosphere of constructive dialogue and a shared vision for a more tolerant future, the Brussels Conference on Peaceful Coexistence and Combating Hate Speech and Extremism concluded. The conference brought together a select group of international figures, representatives of civil society organizations, experts in human rights, media, and education, and policymakers from around the world.
During the fruitful sessions of the conference, the most prominent challenges related to the phenomena of hatred and extremism were addressed, along with ways to effectively address them by promoting the values of understanding and mutual respect between cultures, religions, and societies.
The conference also commended the pioneering role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in promoting a culture of coexistence and interfaith and intercultural dialogue, as well as its ongoing efforts to de-escalate regional conflicts and prevent the escalation of humanitarian crises. The Kingdom has been among the first countries to support stability and peace in many areas of tension through humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving security and dignity for people.
The conference resulted in a set of pivotal recommendations, most notably:
- Strengthening international cooperation to combat extremist groups and activating legal and institutional frameworks that protect human rights and respect fundamental freedoms.
- Enabling the media to fulfill its role in spreading a culture of tolerance and avoiding hateful and divisive rhetoric.
- Reviewing educational curricula to incorporate concepts of coexistence and pluralism and prevent the dissemination of extremist ideas in educational settings.
- Developing effective strategies to reduce hate speech on social media, without compromising freedom of expression.
- Protecting minorities from discrimination in all its forms and working to achieve justice and societal reconciliation.
- Supporting civil society as a key driver in spreading a culture of peace and combating extremism.
The participants emphasized that combating hate speech and extremism is not the responsibility of a single entity, but rather a collective effort that requires genuine international partnership, political will, and comprehensive societal awareness.
At the conclusion of the conference, the organizers, Advisor Faisal bin Saad Al-Mutairi and Dr. Saleh Daher, expressed their deep gratitude to all attendees and participants, looking forward to implementing the recommendations on the ground and continuing the dialogue for a more just and peaceful world.
