On the occasion of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, Italy joins in the commemoration of all those who suffer the consequences of intolerance, discrimination, violence and terrorism based on their religious affiliation or belief.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, reaffirmed “the Italian government’s and my personal utmost commitment to protecting and promoting freedom of religion or belief and the fundamental rights of persons belonging to ethnic or religious minorities anywhere in the world, both in bilateral relations and in the framework of the European Union and International Organisations”.
Worldwide, we are witnessing a serious and constant deterioration in the levels of religious freedom, particularly to the detriment of those belonging to minorities. “In the case of Christians”, remarked Tajani, “one in seven people in the world is a victim of persecution or serious discrimination, a percentage that rises to two in seven in sub-Saharan Africa and two in five in Asia”.
In many cases, discrimination and persecution on religious grounds begins at birth and severely conditions the educational, family and employment life of its victims. Where religious freedom is not respected, stability, cohesion and prosperity are jeopardised.
“Freedom of religion or belief and the fight against violence and discrimination based on religion or belief”, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised, “are a priority in Italy’s foreign policy, which involves all areas of diplomatic action”. In order to strengthen the direct connection between development and the protection of religious freedom and of fundamental rights in general, since 2019 the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has run a Fund dedicated to assisting Christian communities living in critical areas, using calls for tenders managed by the AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation). The 2023 call for tenders, worth around EUR 10.5 million, will allow the implementation of interventions aimed at fostering social inclusion, the economic emancipation of beneficiaries, and the promotion of awareness among local communities regarding peaceful coexistence.
Tajani added that “at a time marked by strong polarisation, Italy is committed to supporting inter-religious dialogue and cooperation in order to foster mutual respect and knowledge among members of different faiths, to fight discrimination, to promote equality among people regardless of religion or belief, and to engage different religions in a common effort to defend peace and human dignity”.
