Poland in the UN

Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States and the European Union (observer)

Today, as we observe the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief for the fifth time, we remain to be seriously concerned at continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and religious minorities around the world.

As members of the Group of Friends of Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief, we strongly condemn all acts of violence committed against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against places of worship and religious places, sites and shrines. We stand in solidarity with all victims of such acts and recognize the importance of providing them with appropriate support and assistance.

We recall that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely, and reaffirm in this regard our strong commitment to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We commend efforts by all actors who contribute to interreligious, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and acknowledge their role in promoting tolerance and respect for religious and cultural diversity and in the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. We encourage them to continue on this path. 

We also encourage the international community to continue to observe the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief and to engage in interreligious, interfaith and intercultural efforts and expanding human rights education as important first steps in combating incidents of intolerance, discrimination and violence against individuals on the basis of religion or belief.