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

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.

Across the globe, people continue to be harassed, attacked – and even killed – simply for what they believe. Places of worship are desecrated. Communities are terrorized. Online platforms are flooded with hate. These acts are not only abhorrent – they are a threat to our shared humanity. When people are targeted for their faith, when hate speech goes unchecked, when impunity prevails – everyone is at risk. We must confront this threat head-on. Governments must adopt and enforce strong anti-discrimination laws – and invest in education that fosters respect, inclusion and human rights for all. Political, religious and community leaders must reject divisive tactics and champion dialogue within and across communities. And digital platforms must step up and incorporate safeguards to avoid becoming megaphones of hate. On this International Day, we remember the victims and recommit to action. Let us stand together to build a world where diversity is celebrated and everyone can live in safety ...

  Today, 22nd August we observe the 6th annual International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief . Adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in 2019, this is both a day of remembrance and a call to action for us all. The UK is committed to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. Indeed, as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”. However, around the world, we see rising levels of intolerance and violence carried out on the basis of religion or belief. We strongly condemn such acts and stand in solidarity with those targeted. This includes the Ahmadiyya community facing persecution in Pakistan; Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar; the Baháʼí in Iran and Yemen; non-Muslims in Sudan being coerced to change their beliefs through the denial of food and aid; vict...

On this day, the EU pays tribute to all those who suffer, or have suffered from, intolerance, discrimination, hostility, hatred, persecution or violence because of their actual or perceived religion or belief, or lack thereof. Over the past year, the world has continued to witness how millions of people from different religious affiliations, communities or minorities fall victim to violence brought by conflict, terrorism, repression, mob intimidation and hate speech. Intolerance, extremism, authoritarianism and conflict-driven hatred continue to jeopardise the rights and freedoms of all too many people, putting at risk their families, communities, religious sites and places of worship. The EU firmly upholds the right of all individuals to enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and to manifest or change their religion or belief without risk of discrimination, persecution or violence. All individuals have the right to practice their religion or belief alone or in commu...

“When people are targeted for their faith, when hate speech goes unchecked, when impunity prevails – everyone is at risk. We must confront this threat head-on,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday's August 22nd , International Day for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief . “Let us stand together to build a world where diversity is celebrated and everyone can live in safety and dignity,” he stressed.