On this day, the EU honors all who suffer or have suffered from intolerance, discrimination, hostility, hatred, persecution, or violence due to their actual or perceived religion or belief, or lack thereof.
Over the past year, numerous people from various religious affiliations, communities, or minorities have fallen victim to violence resulting from conflict, terrorism, repression, mob intimidation, and hate speech. Intolerance, extremism, authoritarianism, and hatred driven by conflict continue to threaten the rights and freedoms of many, putting at risk their families, communities, religious sites, and places of worship.
The EU strongly supports the right of all individuals to enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief, and to express or change their religion or belief without facing discrimination, persecution, or violence. Everyone has the right to practice their religion or belief alone or in community with others, in private or public. Religious heritage sites and places of worship must be protected, especially when people gathering there face threats.
We urge all states to take action against intolerance, discrimination, hatred, and violence based on religion or belief. The international community must foster a culture of religious tolerance, respect for diversity, and mutual understanding, and promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue as essential tools for peaceful coexistence. The EU continues to work towards this goal, for example through EU funding awarded last year to two multi-country projects in Asia and Africa, aimed at promoting freedom of religion or belief and protecting people from discrimination, intolerance, and violence based on religion or belief.
The EU is committed to building a world where people of all religions and beliefs, no matter where they are, can fully enjoy their human rights and live together without fear, in freedom and peace.
Leave a Reply