International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief: “COMES AT AN IMPORTANT TIME“

The past decade has witnessed a sharp increase in violent sectarian or religious tensions. These range from Islamic extremists waging global jihad and power struggles between Sunni and Shia Muslims in the Middle East to the persecution of Rohingya in Myanmar and outbreaks of violence between Christians and Muslims across Africa.

Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right - and no one should suffer violence or discrimination on the basis of religion or belief. Attacks based on religion are attacks on religious freedom, for many of our neighbors at home and abroad, more than their freedom to worship is at stake; their very existence is being threatened based solely on their faith.

The U.N. General Assembly recently adopted a resolution designating August 22 as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The resolution expresses concern at “continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and minorities. It reiterates that “terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.

This resolution comes at an important time – perhaps even a crossroads – in international religious freedom. This day will honor victims and survivors from all religions who “too often remain forgotten” and seeks “to raise awareness of the importance of respectful religious diversity and inclusion. As globally witnessed, the state of religious liberty for religious minorities in many parts of the world appears to be declining.

Efforts like this ‘International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief’ are important signs of solidarity. We all have a role to play as upstanders, calling out religious bigotry and denouncing violence based on religion whenever we see it.

Religious leaders, groups and the interfaith community could usefully get more proactive about peace-making and become more literate with new technologies, not least social media, finding ways to promote positive values both on- and offline. This is because signals and symbols of collective action across religious divides are needed more than ever in our disorderly and fractured world.

I hope that today’s  international day of commemoration will encourage governments to stand by those who are persecuted because of their faith and  help raise awareness concerning the plight of Christians and other religious minorities who are persecuted and denied fundamental rights.

All people have the right to freely choose and live out their faith. Nobody should be persecuted because of their faith. Governments that value freedom need to speak with one voice, and strongly, affirming their commitment to religious liberty for all.

I urge all governments to uphold this fundamental right and protect minorities. I also urge the #UnitedNations, the international community, and leaders of each country to use this resolution as a foundation to bring about real change and to move beyond awareness to impacting the lives of vulnerable religious individuals