Tolerance and Diversity Institute

News
TDI
Aug/1923

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

In 2019 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution and designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. 

The General Assembly expresses concern at 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 at the increasing number and intensity of such incidents, which are often of a criminal nature and may have international characteristics;

Recalls that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely; 

Emphasizes that 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, and stressing the role that these rights can play in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief; 

Underlines that States, regional organizations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies, the media and civil society as a whole have an important role to play in promoting tolerance and respect for religious and cultural diversity and in the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief;

Reiterates that terrorism and violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group. 

Full text of the Resolution A/RES/73/296 is available here: https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/73/296