GENEVA (19 August 2022) – The cynical abuse of religion or belief as a tool of discrimination, hostility and violence should be condemned by all actors at every level of society, UN experts and senior UN officials* said today. Ahead of the International day to commemorate victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief, they issue the following joint statement: “The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, deploring the widespread violations suffered by individuals, and persons belonging to minorities, who are targeted on the basis of their religion or belief. Today we honour these victims and recognise their inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights as members of the human family, as upheld in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is protected in all human rights instruments. In the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the international community committed to ensuring that no one be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons, or person on grounds of religion. Regrettably, we see these standards flouted with impunity in every corner of the world through an alarming number and severity of violations, many targeting persons belonging to religious or belief minorities. Considering that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, these violations are particularly abhorrent when directed by State authorities themselves and where they reveal consistent patterns of gross violations of human rights. In other instances, the State is unable or unwilling to protect victims of all ages from violence or, worse still, funds and supports these acts which target individuals and communities belonging to religious or belief minorities, especially those with multiple marginalized identities. Violence too often contributes to further marginalising populations who are already discriminated against. On this international day, we also condemn the targeting of individuals, in the name of religion or belief. This cynical abuse of religion or belief as a tool of discrimination, hostility and violence should be condemned by all actors at every level of society. Last year, the General Assembly adopted its resolution 75/309 of 21 July, in which it reaffirmed the obligation of Member States to prohibit discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief and to implement measures to ensure the equal and effective protection of all by the law. International law rejects any attempt to call on either religion or belief, or freedom of religion or belief, as justification for the destruction of the rights and freedoms of others. Online and offline hate speech that take the form of expressions of intolerance, discrimination and violence against individuals on the basis of religion or belief should be addressed and countered. In commemorating this significant UN day, we urge States to redouble efforts to provide redress to victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief. We seek to prevent such violations by taking constructive steps that hollow out the efforts of State or non-state actors who carry out acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief or in the name of religion or belief. Our efforts require us to work together in the promotion of tolerance and respect for religious or belief diversity and human rights, as States, United Nations entities, regional organisations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations, religious or belief bodies and leaders, the business sector, the media and civil society. We stress the importance of working together in recognition of the potential role that inspiration and volition drawing from religion and belief can play in advancing respect for the human rights of each and all, and dialogue, understanding and peace.” *The experts: Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Under-Secretary-General Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide; Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on Minorities Issues; Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Gerard Quinn, Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities; Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Livingstone Sewanyana,Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order;Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism; Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; Vitit Muntarbhorn,Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia;Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Alioune Tine, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali; E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Ms. Sorcha MacLeod (Chair-Rapporteur), Ms. Jelena Aparac, Mr. Ravindran Daniel, Mr. Chris Kwaja, Mr Carlos Salazar, Working Group on the use of mercenaries; Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Luciano Hazan (Chair-Rapporteur), Aua Baldé (Vice-Chair), Gabriella Citroni, Angkhana Neelapaijit, Grazyna Baranowska. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; Miriam Estrada-Castillo (Chair-Rapporteur), Mumba Malila (Vice-chairperson), Elina Steinerte, Priya Gopalan, Matthew Gillett, Working Group on arbitrary detention; Isha Dyfan, Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Melissa Upreti (Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck (Vice-Chair), Elizabeth Broderick, Ivana Radačić, and Meskerem Geset Techane, Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by olderpersons; Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Mr. Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Catherine S. Namakula, current Chair-Rapporteur; Barbara G. Reynolds, Vice-Chairperson, Dominique Day, Sushil Raj and Miriam Ekiudoko, Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; Fernanda Hopenhaym (Chair-Rapporteur), Pichamon Yeophantong (Vice Chairperson), Elżbieta Karska, Robert McCorquodale and Damilola Olawuyi, Working Group on Business and Human Rights; Obiora Okafor, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. For more information and media requests, please contact Erik Fattorelli (erik.fattorelli@un.org) or write to hrc-sr-freedomofreligion@un.org For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts, please contact Renato Rosario De Souza (renato.rosariodesouza@un.org) or Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) Follow news related to the UN"s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone"s rights today. #Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org