UNESCO has dedicated this year's International Day of Education to countering hate speech.
The UN body said education and teachers play a crucial role in countering hate speech.
UNESCO said hate speech is a phenomenon which has snowballed in recent years with the use of social media, damaging the fabric of our societies.
"Hate speech fuels prejudice and discrimination and can enable and normalise violence," the UN body said.
UNESCO urged member states to prioritise education as a tool for promoting societies which value human dignity and peace.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said the accelerated spread of hate speech is a threat to all communities.
"Our best defense is education, which must be at the heart of any peace efforts," Azoulay said.
"It is our collective duty to empower learners of all ages to deconstruct hate speech and lay the foundations for inclusive, democratic and human-rights respecting societies."
To succeed, Azoulay said there is need to better train and support teachers who are on the front lines in overcoming this phenomenon.
To mark the 2024 International Day of Education, UNESCO organised a one-day online training for several thousand teachers from around the world on the deconstruction of hate speech.
The training aimed at giving teachers the tools to better spot, tackle and prevent hate speech incidents.
The training was part of UNESCO's action to help its 194 Member States and education professionals in addressing hate speech through education.
Meanwhile at the UN Headquarters in New York, UNESCO brought together Ministers, education leaders and educators from around the world to discuss the central role education plays in achieving sustainable global peace.
In November 2023, UNESCO’s 194 Member States adopted a new recommendation which establishes a global framework in this area.
A recent UNESCO survey conducted in 16 countries revealed that 67 per cent of internet users reported had encountered online hate speech.
The survey also showed that 85 per cent were concerned about the impact and influence of disinformation on their fellow citizens, viewing it as a real threat which can destabilise societies.
The UN body believes education offers multiple opportunities to address the root causes of hate speech and sensitise learners of all ages to its forms and consequences online and offline.
This includes equipping learners with the skills to recognise and respond to hate and injustice, preparing them to respect the value of diversity and human rights and teaching them to recognise the difference between hate speech and freedom of expression.
This instrument will shape education systems and policies in the next decades, from laws and policies to curricula development, teaching practices, learning environments and assessments.
UNESCO is also stepping up efforts to promote anti-racist guidelines and address racism in textbooks as well as a global initiative to combat antisemitism in and through education.