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

“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.” - A. Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General .

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.