International Day of Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religious Belief

All human beings have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet almost two thirds of the world’s population live in countries where there are serious abuses and violations of this right. Millions of people suffer daily from intolerance, discrimination, hatred, hostility and violence because of their actual or perceived religion or belief, or lack thereof. Many pay with their lives. The European Union draws inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which have developed the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person. The Union and its Member States promote the right to freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere. We work persistently to uphold this right at home and abroad, together with civil society, including churches, religious associations or communities, philosophical and non-confessional organisations, and our ...

On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we remember all those who have been targeted because of their faith. Across the world, bloodshed based on religious affiliation runs rampant. Festivals have been attacked. Places of worship desecrated. And many believers – especially among religious minorities – face hostility both online and off. Such acts are an assault on human rights and human dignity. They must end now. I urge governments to bring perpetrators to justice and work to counter all forms of discrimination and hate speech. I appeal to religious leaders to speak out against violence. And I call on digital technology companies to design and moderate their platforms in ways that protect users from stigma and scapegoating. Whenever one group is persecuted, no group is safe. Today, we honour the victims of violence and commit to building societies where all faiths can live and worship in peace.

Ahead of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief on August 22 , the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has warned that violations against religious freedom continue to rise globally. “Indeed, I would say it is a reality for hundreds of millions of people all over the world,” said Marta Petrosillo, Editor in Chief of ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World Report , in a statement. She said it is important to dedicate the observance “to the victims of this kind of violence, to raise awareness, because religious freedom violations affect and cause suffering for many people,” adding that there’s “a tendency to overlook this phenomenon.” ACN’s biennial report on religious freedom, first published in 1999, will be released again on October 21. The report is unique because it is the only NGO-produced study that examines the state of religious freedom in every country and across all faith groups. “Because if re...

It is crucial to avoid generalizations about entire religions or religious groups based on the actions of a few individuals or extremist groups.

Understanding the specific context and motivations behind acts of violence is essential for addressing the root causes and preventing future incidents.

Promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and respect for religious diversity is crucial for fostering peaceful coexistence.