International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026; August 22nd.

FORUM: "Remember all those who have been targeted because of their faith." International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026. Let's Bring Perpetrators of Violent Religious-Based Crimes to Justice, Speak Out against Hate Speech and Discrimination. This year’s offers the opportunity to make visible the multiple, daily and egregious violence that takes place based on religion or belief, and to seek to respond to its root causes, urgently and with far greater determination. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #22August, #Religiousviolence, #CounterViolentExtremism, #ForSafeWorship, #AgainstReligiousViolence.

EVENT: On Saturday, August 22nd, a webinar will be held to mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026, global leaders and human rights bodies—including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued statements condemning rising religious intolerance, attacks on places of worship, and online hostility. Register to participate!

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026; August 22nd.

On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we remember all those who have been targeted because of their faith.

Across the world, bloodshed based on religious affiliation runs rampant. Festivals have been attacked. Places of worship desecrated. And many believers – especially among religious minorities – face hostility both online and off.

Such acts are an assault on human rights and human dignity. They must end now.

I urge governments to bring perpetrators to justice and work to counter all forms of discrimination and hate speech. I appeal to religious leaders to speak out against violence. And I call on digital technology companies to design and moderate their platforms in ways that protect users from stigma and scapegoating.

Whenever one group is persecuted, no group is safe. Today, we honour the victims of violence and commit to building societies where all faiths can live and worship in peace.

United Nations Secretary-General.

PUBLICATIONS: Latest thematic reports

A/HRC/61/50: How freedom of religion or belief relates to death and honouring the deceased.
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea, explores how extensively and deeply freedom of religion or belief relates to death and honouring the deceased.

A/80/205: Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief - Freedom of religion or belief of people on the move.