International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2023

The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is observed annually on August 22nd. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, following the adoption of the landmark resolution 73/328 on “Combating intolerance, discrimination, stigmatization, violence and acts of violence against persons based on religion or belief”. The day aims to remember the victims and survivors of evil acts on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.

Significance of the Day

The day is significant because it provides a platform for the international community to come together and condemn religious violence in all its forms. It also sends a message of hope to the victims of religious violence, that they are not forgotten and that their suffering is not in vain.

The day is also significant because it provides an opportunity to learn more about the issue of religious violence and to take action to prevent it. There are many things that individuals and organizations can do to help combat religious violence, such as:

Raising awareness of the issue
Advocating for the rights of victims of religious violence
Supporting organizations that work to prevent religious violence
Speaking out against religious violence

History of the day

In 2019, the U.N. General Assembly instituted an International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The day reinforces the international community’s commitment to justice for survivors of genocide and other atrocities based on religion or ethnicity. The day seeks to hold people accountable for their crimes.

The day was adopted at the 73rd UN General Assembly on 28 May 2019 as proposed by Poland. It spreads awareness that international communities must work together to achieve justice for the survivors of past abuses by holding perpetrators accountable and demonstrating to governments that action must be taken to ‘never again’ tolerate genocide or other atrocities.

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