Statement on International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence
Based on Religion or Belief
We welcome the decision of the UN to designate August 22 as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
Tragic events such as the bombings of churches in Colombo, killings at mosques in Christchurch, and the attack on a synagogue in San Diego remind us of the importance of uniting to condemn acts of violence based on religion or belief. We all stand together with those brave individuals who practice their religions in the face of danger and threat.
During the 2019 U.S. Department of State Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, members of civil society, foreign governments, and international organizations gathered to address religious discrimination and promote the preservation of religious liberties. Throughout the Ministerial, we heard from survivors of religious persecution who highlighted the struggles religious minorities continue to face in all corners of the globe.
We commend the UAE for demonstrating its commitment to religious plurality by marking 2019 as the Year of Tolerance, and for all of the forward-thinking measures the UAE takes to welcome members of all faiths to this country. We invite nations, international organizations, and civil society to observe the International Day and stand to honor the victims and survivors.