EU Statement – UN General Assembly: High-Level Event to Commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia
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Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Andorra, San Marino and align themselves with this statement.
As we approach the end of Ramadan, a holy month in the life of Muslims worldwide, I would like to take this opportunity to wish ‘Ramadan Mubarak!” to all those observing it.
Today’s commemoration is an important opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to combat anti-Muslim hatred and to uphold the dignity, safety and equal rights of Muslims and all those perceived as such. Today’s event is a timely occasion to take stock of the challenges faced worldwide by Muslims and individuals perceived as Muslims.
Like all forms of discrimination, hostility and racism, anti-Muslim hatred is unacceptable; it must be condemned and fought daily.
Millions of Muslims live in Europe today, and for the most part they are able to enjoy the civil liberties and human rights of our democratic countries. However, as shown by the report “Being Muslim in the EU”, Muslims may experience discrimination in the workplace, when looking for a job, when seeking medical care or simply in the street. Discrimination and hatred may particularly affect women. Europe has witnessed worrying episodes of online and offline violence against people of faith, including Muslims and those perceived as such. Anti-Muslim hatred is still often under-reported and under-recorded, which underscores the need for trust-building and awareness raising.
The EU supports high standards of protection of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief everywhere, and we strive for the highest standards ourselves. The first International Day to Combat Islamophobia was in 2022, but the EU has long been active in countering hate crime, hate speech and polarisation, while safeguarding the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including seeking, receiving and imparting information and ideas.As early as 2015, we created the position of Coordinator on combatting anti-Muslim hatred, and we hope that, with other countries and institutions around the world following suit, together we can effectively push back against discrimination.
We are happy to inform you that the recently adopted EU Anti-Racism Strategy entails concrete actions to address anti-Muslim hatred for the period from 2026 to 2030, stepping up our commitment from the previous anti-racism action plan.
Tomorrow, as a first step in implementing our new strategy, we will organise an Antiracism Conference to discuss all forms of racism, including anti-Muslim hatred.
In May of this year, we will organise a third meeting of a Coordination Group, bringing together Member States, international organisations, partner countries and civil society.
A year ago, during the second coordination meeting jointly organised by the European Commission and the Council of Europe, Member States agreed that a non-binding working definition of anti-Muslim hatred could help make our efforts more coherent and effective. We have since facilitated consultations on this topic. We will commission a comprehensive study to map how the phenomenon manifests itself and to propose concrete actions to tackle it.
Other initiatives, such as the European Democracy Shield, include measures to address threats and polarisation especially online.
The EU supports a vibrant and resilient civil society. In this vein, we have increased our financial support for civil society organisations and EU Member States in combating anti-Muslim hatred.
Our continuous efforts are anchored in robust laws and policies, as mandated by international human rights law.
The EU is firmly committed to respecting, promoting and fulfilling human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities everywhere.
Dear friends,
The resolutions on freedom of religion or belief and on combatting intolerance, the Istanbul Process, and the Rabat Plan of Action, all offer useful tools and mechanisms designed to help the international community tackle these challenges.
Human rights must apply equally for everyone, regardless of religion or belief, opinion, gender, the way one presents or the colour of one’s skin, for present and future generations.
Thank you.
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^ North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.