International Day of Victims of Religious Persecution 2022

Every August 22, the International Day of Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief is commemorated, established by the UN General Assembly on May 28, 2019.

In its resolution A/RES/73/296the United Nations expresses concern “at the acts of intolerance and violence motivated by religion or belief that continue to be committed against people, including those belonging to religious communities and minorities around the world.”

In this sense, it reminds States that “they have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including those of people belonging to religious minorities, such as the right to freely profess their religion or beliefs.”

Ewelina Ochab, lawyer and writer, specialist in the situation of religious minorities in the Middle East, was one of the main promoters of the initiative approved at the UN. In August 2019 He assured that, although “it was a long process with many participants,” the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was one of his “inspirations.”

Ochab said that having a date to remember the victims and survivors of religious persecution is not “a goal in itself,” but is important “so as not to forget our commitments” and “the beginning of a long campaign to prevent There will be more victims in the future.”

For his part, Thomas Heine-Geldern, international executive president of ACN, explained that in 2019 the commemoration of this international day is something that “we have been waiting for a long time” and represents “an important step so that in the future the voice of persecuted Christians.”

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need has been working for Christians who are persecuted for their faith for more than 70 years.

Heine-Geldern also stated that this commemoration should begin “a process that leads the international community to a coordinated plan of action to end religious persecution and prevent it in the future.”

“In reality, it is the duty of the United Nations, governments and political actors to enforce the human right to religious freedom. This symbolic day must now be followed by concrete actions.”

The ACN executive president also stressed that although “all religious communities regularly suffer attacks, international reports on religious freedom unfortunately confirm that Christians are the most persecuted.”

In its 2023 report on religious freedom, ACN revealed that “the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is violated in one in three countries (31%), that is, in 61 of 196 nations.”

In this sense, it warns that “almost 4.9 billion people, that is, 62% of the world’s population, live in countries where religious freedom is strongly restricted.”

With respect to Christians, the pontifical foundation estimates that 325 million faithful They are persecuted for their religion, especially in countries where they are a religious minority.