Friday , 29 March 2024

USCIRF Calls for Action on UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

Shabtabnews – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recognizes the United Nations’ second annual International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief ahead of August 22, the official remembrance date.

In the statement the USCIRF states – “Commemorating the many victims of violence based on religion or belief is critical, but only the first step,” says USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin, “The iternational community 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.”

The commemoration day was adopted by consensus on May 13, 2019 in order to condemn continuing violence and acts of terrorism targeting individuals, including persons belonging to religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief.

“In order to properly recognize this day, we must shed light on the continuing attacks by states and non-state actors on religious groups all over the world,” stated USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins. “This includes the genocide of Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’a Muslims in Iraq and Syria by ISISabuses against Uyghurs in China, and mass atrocities against Rohingya Muslims and Christians in Burma.”

On August 27, USCIRF will be hosting a conversation with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide to discuss conditions for Rohingya Muslims in Burma and in refugee camps in Bangladesh, as well as the pending international lawsuits against the Burmese government.

USCIRF’s 2020 Annual Report documents acts of violence based on religion or belief that amount to mass atrocities and other violations of religious freedom occurring around the globe.


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