UN action Plan to Safeguard Religious Sites

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, announced the launching of a plan of action to protect religious sites, in response to the growing attacks against those places.

As the highest United Nations representative told the press, this is a new effort to combat hate and violence worldwide.

This step was taken for a reason that is deeply unfortunate and absolutely necessary, he stressed, our world 'is plagued by an increase in anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred, attacks against Christians and other religious groups.'

Just in recent months, many Jews have been killed in their synagogues, Muslims in their mosques, and Christians at the time of prayer, he regretted.

Guterres condemned such attacks and stressed that religious sites should be places of worship, not of war.

He also explained that the United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a central understanding: religious sites are powerful symbols of our collective conscience.

The initiative offers concrete recommendations to help countries promote the safety of sacred places, ensure that the faithful can observe their rituals in peace and foster the values of compassion and tolerance, he added.

Unfortunately, he added, these sites have been increasingly attacked in situations of armed conflict.

The secretary general recalled that buildings dedicated to religion are specifically protected by international humanitarian law, and intentionally assaulting them could be a war crime.

Similarly, he warned of the rise in hate speech, even by political figures.

Following the tragic terrorist attacks in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the secretary general commissioned the development of this action plan to Miguel Moratinos, senior representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

The project seeks to provide an action-oriented framework with recommendations aimed at preventing attacks against places of worship and ensuring the safety of the faithful.

In addition, that plan is complemented by the Hate Speech Strategy, launched last June. In conjunction, UN authorities indicate, these actions provide new tools that reinforce each other to combat intolerance and boost peaceful coexistence.



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