International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/73/296
About International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is observed on 22 August. It remembers people targeted because of religion or belief and reinforces the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression, peaceful assembly and association.
The observance focuses on victims and human rights; it should not be used to imply that violence or extremism is inherent to any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
Why International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief matters
Violence based on religion or belief can target individuals, communities, homes, businesses, schools, cultural centres, places of worship and religious sites.
The UN framework pairs remembrance with prevention: protection of human rights, support for victims and families, accountability, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and action against intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes.
History of International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland and the United States submitted the draft that became the establishing resolution, with many additional Member States later joining as sponsors.
On 28 May 2019, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/73/296 and designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
On 22 August 2019, the Secretary-General described the occasion as the first-ever observance of the International Day.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland and the United States
The UN Digital Library identifies these nine Member States as the authors of draft resolution A/73/L.85.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/73/296
First documented observance
The Secretary-General’s 22 August 2019 message explicitly calls it the first-ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Learn how freedom of religion or belief protects both religious and non-religious convictions under international human-rights frameworks.
When discussing attacks, focus on verified facts and victims rather than generalizing about entire faith communities.
Support credible local or international organizations that document hate crimes, protect places of worship or assist victims.
Pair interfaith dialogue with practical measures such as reporting threats, safeguarding vulnerable sites and challenging incitement to violence.
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Facts
The Day is observed on 22 August.
The General Assembly established it through A/RES/73/296 on 28 May 2019.
Nine Member States were the named authors of the initial draft resolution.
The first-ever observance took place on 22 August 2019.
The UN resolution explicitly rejects associating terrorism or violent extremism with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Messages
May International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief be marked with reflection, respect and a renewed commitment to protect human dignity.
Remembering on International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief means listening carefully, resisting distortion and carrying the lessons of history forward.
On International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, may memory lead to responsibility, empathy and thoughtful action.
May this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief honour those at its heart through sincere remembrance rather than empty words.
On International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we remember with dignity and make space for the people, families and communities whose experiences must not be forgotten.
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief Quotes
“Whenever one group is persecuted, no group is safe.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Faith Context Respect.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/73/L.85 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/73/296 (opens in a new tab)
UN Secretary-General — first-ever observance, 22 August 2019 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — observance page (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief?
22 August The documented recurrence rule is: 22 August.
Does International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland and the United States.
Is International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was this International Day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/73/296 on 28 May 2019.
When was it first observed?
The UN Secretary-General described 22 August 2019 as the first-ever observance.
What is the focus of the Day?
It commemorates victims of violence based on religion or belief and emphasizes human rights, victim support, prevention of intolerance and accountability for violence.
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