WARSAW, 22 August 2024 – Safeguarding the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief protects the inherent dignity of every individual and at the same time helps to build more tolerant and inclusive societies, reducing tensions and allowing our diverse communities to exist together, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
“Freedom of religion or belief is at the heart of our democracies and our sense of identity,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “Safeguarding this right increases mutual understanding and respect, helping to increase the resilience of our societies to polarization, and act as a barrier against violence and hatred.”
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief protects every individual’s right to have, not to have, adopt, change, or leave a religion or belief. OSCE states have committed to “recognize and respect the freedom of the individual to profess and practice, alone or in community with others, religion or belief” in line with their own conscience. Nobody should face prosecution or persecution because of their choice to exercise this right in a peaceful way.
It is the primary duty of governments to prevent and protect people against violence and attacks based on their religion or belief, or any other aspect of their identity. All OSCE countries have committed to “prevent intolerance, violence and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief (…) and endeavour to prevent and protect against attacks directed at persons or groups based on thought, conscience, religion or belief.”
Violence based on religion or belief can be a threat to the stability and security of our societies. OSCE states have stressed the importance of “fostering a climate of mutual tolerance and respect between believers of different communities as well as between believers and nonbelievers”. They have also noted the “role that discrimination and intolerance can play in fuelling violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism,” and recognized the role of interfaith and interreligious dialogue in fostering an inclusive climate that protects freedom of religion or belief.
States act as the guarantors of all human rights, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. This freedom must be respected not just in times of peace, but also during conflict or war. In guaranteeing this right, states should act with impartiality, not commenting on the validity of religions or beliefs and not discriminating or treating any specific communities differently. The autonomy of religious or belief communities must also be protected, including the right to organize themselves within their own institutional structure.
In essence, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief reflects the understanding that diversity of religion or belief exists in every society, and that respecting our differences is the only way for us to live together peacefully.
VIENNA, 22 August 2024 - As we observe the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we once again express our deep concern at the alarming level of hate crime and acts of violence based on religion or belief across the OSCE region.
The high and increasing number of reported incidents of intolerance, violence and discrimination against Muslims show that the root causes of anti-Muslim hatred, coupled with xenophobia, are deep-rooted in many countries in the OSCE region.
The worrying levels of anti-Semitism since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, and ensuing developments in the Middle East have led Jews in many OSCE participating States to fear for their physical safety and to hide their Jewish identity in public.
Acts of intolerance against Christians and members of other religions or beliefs continue unabated.
Such acts of violence are often interlinked with aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism and xenophobia and can have a differential impact on diverse groups within society, including women, migrants, and Roma and Sinti.
The role of social media in promoting and amplifying these acts and expressions of intolerance and xenophobia, as well as in disseminating false information for the sake of provocation is a serious cause for concern and must be addressed to ensure safe and peaceful societies for all. Freedom of expression is a basic tenet of democracy, but it cannot be an excuse for unchecked hatred, based on religion or belief, which targets the physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals.
Violence based on religion or belief is a threat to social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and the security of our societies. It ultimately risks the erosion of our basic democratic values and principles, vital to the welfare of our communities and a function of peace on a larger scale.
On this day of commemoration, we encourage OSCE participating States to strengthen their efforts to protect freedom of religion and belief for all and implement their commitments in the area of tolerance and non-discrimination with legislation and enforcement, including comprehensive measures enabling the effective reporting, recording, and prosecution of hate crime, together with appropriate victim support.
Freedom of religion or belief is specifically acknowledged as an integral aspect of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security, thus providing for a sound bulwark against discrimination, intolerance, racism, hatred and prejudice. We therefore call on all participating States to implement their OSCE commitments while addressing the scourge of increasing hatred based on religion or belief.
Together with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), we stand ready to lend our support in assisting participating States in ensuring respect for the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, as well as countering intolerance and discrimination.
Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism
Ambassador Evren Dağdelen Akgün, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims
Dr Regina Polak, Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination, with a focus on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions