International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

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Date(s) - August 22, 2019
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SUMMARY

  • 22 August becomes “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”
  • Persecution of Christians and religious minorities globally on the rise

NEW YORK (27 May 2019) – On 28 May, the United Nations General Assembly will adopt a resolution creating the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The day will be observed each year on 22 August. 

Nobody should be persecuted because of their faith. We welcome this clear statement from the United Nations that persecution on the basis of religion or belief cannot be permitted and the victims must never be forgotten. All people have the right to peacefullylive out their faith. As we join together to reaffirm this right and remember those who have suffered, we also must recognize that resolutions alone are not enough. Religious persecution is globally on the rise. We urge all states to ensure that their laws and policies are in line with their commitments to protect religious freedom under international law,” said Kelsey Zorzi, President of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the United Nations and Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom for ADF International. 

Persecution on the rise 

According to recent reports by both US and UK government entities, religious persecution is globally on the rise. The persecution of Christians worldwide is especially a growing concern, as stated in a report commissioned by the British Foreign Office which confirms that Christians are globally the most persecuted religious group. 

We hope that today’s resolution and the new international day of commemoration will encourage governments to stand by those who are persecuted because of their faith. This international day will 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. We urge all governments to uphold this fundamental right and protect minorities,” said Paul Coleman, Executive Director of ADF International.

https://adfinternational.org/news/un-creates-new-international-day-condemning-religious-persecution/

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