Islamabad, 22 August 2022 (TDI): The United Nations (UN) is observing International Day Commemorating the Victims of Religion Based Violence.
Every year, the world observes “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief” to show solidarity with the victims of religious-based violence.
On the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, UN experts call on all actors at every level of society to condemn the abuse of religion or belief as a tool of discrimination, hostility & violence.
👉https://t.co/4zeQq5geVt pic.twitter.com/lwq7zecyxj
— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) August 22, 2022
UNGA declared 22 August as “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”. It was after the UNGA adopted a resolution in its 73rd session on 28 May 2019.
This day is about highlighting the numerous cases of abuse endured by the people and members of minorities. The reason is that the minorities suffer because of their religion or belief.
Moreover, the victims have human value as well as equal and inalienable rights as human beings. Also, this is part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Furthermore, all human rights documents guarantee free thinking and freedom of religion and belief.
The 1981 UN Declaration
The world community pledged to guarantee that nobody faces religious discrimination by any state or individual. It already is in the United Nations Declaration of 1981.
The declaration is on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
Article 3 is the most important article of the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Article 3 states that:
“Discrimination between human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and shall be condemned as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enunciated in detail in the International Covenants on Human Rights, and as an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations between nations.”
