The cynical abuse of religion or belief as a tool of discrimination, hostility and violence should be condemned by all actors at every level of society, UN experts and senior UN officials* said today. Ahead of the International day to commemorate victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief, they issue the following joint statement:
"The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, deploring the widespread violations suffered by individuals, and persons belonging to minorities, who are targeted on the basis of their religion or belief.
Today we honour these victims and recognise their inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights as members of the human family, as upheld in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is protected in all human rights instruments. In the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the international community committed to ensuring that no one be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons, or person on grounds of religion.
Regrettably, we see these standards flouted with impunity in every corner of the world through an alarming number and severity of violations, many targeting persons belonging to religious or belief minorities. Considering that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, these violations are particularly abhorrent when directed by State authorities themselves and where they reveal consistent patterns of gross violations of human rights. In other instances, the State is unable or unwilling to protect victims of all ages from violence or, worse still, funds and supports these acts which target individuals and communities belonging to religious or belief minorities, especially those with multiple marginalized identities. Violence too often contributes to further marginalising populations who are already discriminated against.
On this international day, we also condemn the targeting of individuals, in the name of religion or belief. This cynical abuse of religion or belief as a tool of discrimination, hostility and violence should be condemned by all actors at every level of society. Last year, the General Assembly adopted its resolution 75/309 of 21 July, in which it reaffirmed the obligation of Member States to prohibit discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief and to implement measures to ensure the equal and effective protection of all by the law. International law rejects any attempt to call on either religion or belief, or freedom of religion or belief, as justification for the destruction of the rights and freedoms of others. Online and offline hate speech that take the form of expressions of intolerance, discrimination and violence against individuals on the basis of religion or belief should be addressed and countered.
In commemorating this significant UN day, we urge States to redouble efforts to provide redress to victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief. We seek to prevent such violations by taking constructive steps that hollow out the efforts of State or non-state actors who carry out acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief or in the name of religion or belief.
Our efforts require us to work together in the promotion of tolerance and respect for religious or belief diversity and human rights, as States, United Nations entities, regional organisations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations, religious or belief bodies and leaders, the business sector, the media and civil society. We stress the importance of working together in recognition of the potential role that inspiration and volition drawing from religion and belief can play in advancing respect for the human rights of each and all, and dialogue, understanding and peace."
