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

International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is a United Nations-sponsored annual awareness day that takes place on August 22 as part of the UN’s efforts to support Human Rights Related to Freedom of Religion or Belief.  It was first introduced in 2019.

This day highlights memorise about the victims and survivors of evil acts on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief. The main purpose of this day is to create awareness among people to attain justice for the survivors of past abuses. this is the duty of govt that must take the right decision to ‘never again’ tolerate genocide or other atrocities.

Freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing. They are enshrined in articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Upholding these rights plays an important role in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.

There are continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and religious minorities around the world, and the number and intensity of such incidents, which are often of a criminal nature and may have international characteristics, are increasing.

Victims have included religious minorities, individuals who are not religious, LGBTI persons, children and women who face many forms of discrimination and gender-based violence. Such violence threatens the hard-fought progress in securing women’s equality and the rights of LGBTI persons.

That is why the General Assembly adopted the resolution A/RES/73/296, titled “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief” strongly condemning continuing violence and acts of terrorism targeting individuals, including persons belonging to religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.

Religion or belief should never be used to justify discrimination. When faced with religious persecution or discrimination, victims are often also deprived of their right to participate fully in political, economic, and cultural life, as well as their rights to education and to health. This can include the desecration and destruction of numerous cultural heritage sites of rich historic and religious value, such as places of worship and cemeteries.

All major religions in the world embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence in a shared humanity. There is richness and strength in diversity hence religion should never be a threat. Religion is a personal choice, an individual right to believe in a higher being or a set of principles which guides a person through life. Let’s accept that.

As we observe International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion and Belief, to bring an end to Acts of Violence based on Religion and Belief, we must all love and respect each other. Let each one of us lend our unwavering support by doing all in our power to prevent Violence Based on Religion and Belief.