The European Union has marked the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief by urging states to act against discrimination and violence linked to religion or belief.
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a right set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the EU declared on Friday in a statement by its High Representative on Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Kallas emphasised that almost two thirds of the world’s population live in countries where there are serious abuses and violations of this right.
Millions of people face intolerance, discrimination, hatred, hostility and violence because of their actual or perceived religion or belief — or because they have none — and some are killed.
The EU and its member states said they promote freedom of religion or belief “for everyone, everywhere”, and work with civil society groups including churches, religious associations and communities, philosophical and non-confessional organisations, as well as international partners.
Work inside and outside the EU
Within the EU, policies include initiatives to fight antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred, while condemning discrimination and violence against Christians and members of other religious communities, the statement declared.
Internationally, the EU said it supports United Nations work on freedom of religion or belief, including by putting forward resolutions and backing the work of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The bloc stressed that it funds projects to strengthen civil society and institutions promoting freedom of religion or belief in Asia, supports efforts to foster dialogue and combat religious discrimination in the Sahel, and works with partners to promote religious coexistence.
The European Commission has appointed a new Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief to engage with non-EU countries and raise global awareness about discrimination and persecution based on religion or belief.
In its statement, the EU paid tribute to people targeted for choosing, changing or leaving a religion or belief, for belonging to a religious community or being perceived as part of one, or for having no religion or belief.
It called on states to respect, protect and fulfil the right to freedom of religion or belief, and said this includes not criminalising apostasy — leaving a religion — or misusing blasphemy laws.
