On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief, I stand in solidarity with all victims of persecution, wherever they may be.
In a year when, among other challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to limitations in the exercise of and put respect for human rights to a test, we continue to witness how religious intolerance leads to individuals across the world being harassed
threatened, detained, scapegoated, and killed for their religion or for holding humanist and/or atheist beliefs. Individuals have also been discriminated in accessing health services and social protection measures on religion or belief grounds.
Persecution and discrimination based on religion or belief is exacerbated by violations of governments of their international human rights obligations. Often, discrimination in law and practice leads to wider persecution.
Combatting in an impartial way, all forms of religious intolerance, stigmatisation, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief must be a priority for all States and the international community.
Every person no matter where they live should be guaranteed the right to have, not to have, to choose or change, to practice and to manifest a religion or belief and to be free from discrimination.
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