IFOR stands with human rights defenders and addresses the case of Buenaventura in Colombia, at the 46th Human Rights Council

El 15 de marzo de 2021 el Movimiento Internacional de Reconciliación - International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR ha abordado la situación en Colombia y ha pedido a los Estados miembros del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU y a la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos que presten atención a las violaciones en Buenaventura.
La declaración ha sido pronunciada en el plenario de la 46ª sesión del CDH por María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos, una defensora de los derechos humanos colombiana que ha recibido recientemente amenazas por su trabajo; María Eugenia colabora con Presencia de Paz Peace Presence y es miembro de Conpaz.
Puedes ver la declaracion grabada aqui.

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On March 15th International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR addressed the situation in Colombia and called on the member States of the UN Human Rights Council and on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights "to give attention to the violations in Buenaventura (Colombia), an area where there are many foreign economic interests and to urge the national government to implement the peace agreement, to dismantle the surviving structures of paramilitarism, to fulfil the Acuerdo del Paro Cívico de Buenaventura and to prioritise social investment and not militarisation."
The statement has been delivered in the plenary of the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, by María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos, a Colombian human rights defender who has recently received threats for her work; María Eugenia collaborates with Peace Presence and is a member of Conpaz.

Human Rights Council, 46th session
Geneva, 15 March 2021
Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council's attention
Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Madam President,

The Final Peace Agreement was an important step towards overcoming the social and armed conflict. However, the government's unwillingness to implement it has made the human rights situation increasingly deplorable.
According to the report presented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "In 2020, 76 massacres were documented, involving the death of 292 people, and 248 peace signatories have been killed". 1
My name is María Eugenia Mosquera Riascos, family member of a victim, human rights defender and member of the Association of Victims Communities Building Peace in Colombia 2.
In this opportunity we present a situation that requires the Council's attention, the case of Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, where human rights violations, threats, assassinations, forced disappearances, extortion, displacement, dismemberment, confinement, recruitment, sexual violence and expropriation of collective territories are on the rise. Terror is imposed by paramilitary-type structures that operate despite heavy militarisation.
In this context, in January I received threats 3, which are directly related to my work of accompaniment and defence of human rights in this part of the country.
We call on the Member States and the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to pay attention to these situations of violations in Buenaventura, an area where there are many foreign economic interests; to exhort the national government to implement the Peace Agreement, to dismantle the remaining paramilitary structures; to comply with the Acuerdo del Paro Cívico de Buenaventura 4, to prioritise social investment and not militarisation.

Thank you.

 [Translated from the original in Spanish]

1. https://www.hchr.org.co/documentoseinformes/informes/altocomisionado/HRC46-Informe-anual- 2020_traduccion-no-oficial.pdf

2. CONPAZCOL https://comunidadesconpaz.wordpress.com/

3. FOR Peace Presence y otras organizaciones escribieron una carta pública sobre estas amenazas

4. https://www.mininterior.gov.co/content/gobierno-logra-acuerdos-para-levantar-el-paro-civico-en-buenaventura

• You can download the English version of the statement here

• You can download the original statement in Spanish here

• You can watch the recording of this General Debate of the session of the Human Rights Council here (IFOR's statement is at 02:35:59)

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IFOR collaborates with both organizations for the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of peace.

CONPAZ - Comunidades Construyendo Paz en Colombia is a network of 140 victims’ organizations, present in 14 departments where the armed conflict still continues. Apart from its challenging work to strengthen community processes CONPAZ has presented decisive contributions to the peace negotiations in Havana, and is worried about its security situation.

In the framework of the peace negotiations CONPAZ proposed an alternative model of transitional justice, restorative justice, focused on reconciliation and investigation of the truth.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation Peace Presence (FORPP) is a non governmental organization dedicated to providing international accompaniment to communities and individuals at risk in Colombia who are working to promote human rights, peace and justice.

FOR Peace Presence provides physical safety, political visibility and solidarity by accompanying communities and organizations that embrace active nonviolence to defend life, land and dignity. FORPP started as a program of IFOR's U.S.A. branch and then, in 2014, FOR Peace Presence constituted itself as an independent organization.

IFOR takes the floor at 46th UN HRC during the general debate with the High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Michelle Bachelet

IFOR is currently participating in the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council which is in remote modality due to the pandemic. Today program of work included the general debate with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and following the States representatives, NGOs with Consultative Status have been able to take the floor.

IFOR referred to some concerning local situations such as Colombia, Eritrea and Western Sahara and then addressed the issues of criminalization of solidarity and nuclear disarmament

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Human Rights Council, 46th Session

Geneva, 26th February 2021 

Item 2: General Debate

Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Madam High Commissioner,

IFOR thanks you and your office for the reports.

We are particularly concerned by the situation in Eritrea and in the region and by the lack of collaboration as also highlighted, yesterday, by the new Special Rapporteur[1] and share a deep concern for the risk and danger faced by young people who refuse to serve in the National Service.

We welcome the recommendations which have been listed in your report on Colombia[2] and highlight the importance to guarantee a comprehensive intervention by the State to reduce the violence and not just an increase in the military presence.

 We are alarmed by the increasing cases of criminalization of solidarity[3] with individual cases of people being charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigration because they provide first assistance to migrants or rescue them, whether at sea, in the mountains or in the middle of forests.

 Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa[4], continues to be a pending decolonization case. International Law needs to be implemented.

IFOR restate the call made a few months ago “on the governments in the region and around the world to contribute to a peaceful  solution of the conflict and the implementation of the fundamental rights of the Saharawi people”[5].

We would like to conclude with a positive note: nuclear weapons are finally banned!

We welcome the enter into force of the UN Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW)[6], on January 22nd 2021[7].

Thank you.

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1. Oral update of Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, at the 46th HRC on February 24th 2021. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26795&LangID=E

2. A/HRC/46/76.

3. In 2019 the Red Cross EU Office released a statement regarding the soaring of the criminalisation of solidarity in Europe. https://redcross.eu/latest-news/the-eu-must-stop-the-criminalisation-of-solidarity-with-migrants-and-refugees 

   Some recent individual cases:
   Gian Andrea Franchi and Lorena Fornasir: https://www.avvenire.it/attualita/pagine/si-preso-cura-dei-migranti-sotto-accusa-nonno-andrea

   Carola Rackete: https://theconversation.com/sea-watch-3-captain-arrested-eu-complicit-in-criminalising-search-and-rescue-in-the-mediterranean-119670

   Sean Binder and Anouk Van Gestel: https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-events/criminalisation-of-solidarity-how-to-protect-the-right-to-help-migrants-and-refugees/

4. It is on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since 1963.

5. IFOR has released a statement on the situation in Western Sahara on November 13th 2020 http://www.ifor.org/news/2020/11/13/ifor-statement-on-the-current-situation-in-western-sahara. Another one was released on December 14th 2020 http://www.ifor.org/news/2020/12/14/smlf3m85b4eq2r7kexpxd76zzgvoi5.

6. https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/

7. https://www.icanw.org/tpnw_enters_into_force

• You can download the original statement here.

• You can watch the recording of the session here. IFOR statements is at 00:46:36.

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IFOR has released a public statement regarding Western Sahara on November 13th 2020, the day before the truce was broken in the region. You can read the original statement here.

A second statement has been published December 14th 2020 on the U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and on the primacy of fundamental rights and international law. You can read the original statement here.

IFOR has a long standing engagement for nuclear disarmament and on January 22nd 2021 has organized a new Day of Action to join activists worldwide to celebrate the entering into force of the UN nuclear ban Treaty adopted on July 7th 2017 by the UN General Assembly. The Treaty reached its 50th ratification on October 24th 2020, International UN Day.

You can watch here, the video message of the president of IFOR which has been released for the occasion.

You can read more about the Day of Action here and discover some actions from IFOR members published on our Facebook page.

IFOR STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN WESTERN SAHARA

STATEMENT ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN WESTERN SAHARA 

Today, on November 13th 2020, several media outlets have reported that the Moroccan army launched an op eration near the border crossing at Guerguerat against a group of Saharawi protesters.1 The representatives of  the Saharawi people had previously stated that any such Moroccan action would be considered an aggression  to which they would respond, and that this would mean the end of the ceasefire agreement between the parties.2 While early reports are still unclear, the developments today represent a clear threat of an outbreak of a new  war. 

In 1991, the United Nations and the international community made a promise to the Saharawi people that a  referendum would be organized, and that they freely and fairly would get to decide their own fate. 30 years  later, that promise remains unfulfilled. Today’s events demonstrate that a continued status quo and continued  inaction is not sustainable and not acceptable.  

The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) was founded over 100 years ago in response to the  horrors of the First World War. Since then, IFOR has taken a consistent stance against war and its preparation.  When people and organizations commit themselves to action, war and conflicts can be prevented and trans formed through nonviolent means.  

Such action is urgent and well overdue. The UN needs to take concrete steps to deescalate the current situation  and demonstrate a serious commitment to renewed negotiations. IFOR welcomes any efforts by the UN to  immediately seek an end to the current military escalation. These efforts must be intensified. Further,  IFOR calls upon the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to without delay appoint a new UN Per 

sonal Envoy for Western Sahara to demonstrate that continued status quo is not acceptable. The position  has been vacant for 18 months. With the vacancy, the main avenue for non-violent engagement between the  parties is closed and the peace process is at a standstill. The immediate appointment of a new Personal Envoy  is the very least that the UN can do to signal to those desiring a non-violent resolution to the conflict that such  a path is still possible. The consequence of continued stalling has been made clear today.  

IFOR also calls on the governments in the region and around the world to contribute to a peaceful  solution of the Western Sahara conflict and the implementation of the fundamental rights of the people  living on those territories. The UN Member States must act in accordance with the UN Charter3and demon strate that continued military escalation is unacceptable. The outbreak of a new war in the region would con stitute a grave risk for people’s lives and livelihoods. The Covid-19 Pandemic has put severe strains on an  already difficult situation and would further complicate any humanitarian and other relief efforts that would  follow a war. It is imperative that this is avoided and that a credible path to a peaceful resolution is established. 

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Notes

1. For example, Al-Jazeera. Morocco troops launch operation in Western Sahara border zone. Retrieved November 13, 2020.  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/13/morocco-launches-operation-in-western-sahara-border-zone

2. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Ministry of Information. Press Release November 9, 2020.  

3. In particular, Article 1 of the UN Charter: “The purposes of the UN is to maintain international peace and security, and to that end:  to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression  or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international  law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace”.

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You can donwload the whole statement here.

IFOR reports to the 38th session of the UPR on the right to conscientious objection to military service in Singapore

IFOR prepared a report on the right to conscientious objection to military service in Singapore. and submitted it to the 38th session Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council.

The session will take place in May 2021 and it will include the review of human rights in Singapore.

The main issue in this Country, related to this topic, is the fact that there is no recognition of the right to conscientious objection to military service in law and practice and thus objectors are prosecuted and detained.

The report submitted by IFOR addressed the non-recognition of the right to conscientious objection, persecution of conscientious objectors, underage recruitment and restrictions on civil society (with particular attention to freedom of opinion and expression, right to peaceful assembly, freedom of association).

Regarding the rights of the child, the document points out that

"Under the Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme (“VEES”), children who have reached the age of 16 years and 6 months may be voluntarily recruited into the Singapore Armed Forces. Such voluntary recruitment is subject to documentary proof of age, the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the fully informed consent of the recruit."

The submission also includes suggested recommendations to change the status quo and ensure human rights.

You can download the complete Report here

You can find more details on the previews UPR of Singapore here

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The Universal Periodic Review is a State-driven process, which provides the opportunity for each State to present what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situation in their country and to fulfil their human rights obligations; the State under review will also report on the implementation of the previously accepted recommendations. UN Member States have the possibility to ask questions and make recommendations to the State under review. UPR Working Group consists of the 47 members of the Council, however any member state can take part in the discussion.
The review is based on information provided by the interested State, independent human rights experts and other stakeholders such as NGOs.
NGOs reports and proposed recommendations can be referred to by any of the States taking part in the interactive discussion during the review; it is therefore of vital importance to engage at the UPR and address specific issues which can be therefore part of the dialogue with the country under review.
IFOR focuses in particular on issues related to conscientious objection and to the militarization of society. 

IFOR is currently running a particular conscientious objection project, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT), a grant-making Quaker trust. Among the main aims there are research work and redaction of thematic country-based reports to be submitted to the UN for the regular State reviews on human rights.

The right to refuse to kill, although it is a human right, it is not recognized in all countries and many objectors are persecuted.

IFOR is committed to support this right and make a lasting change in society, for peace. JRCT recognizes that "change can take many years to achieve and is willing to take the long view, and to take the risks".

MAY 15th, INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION DAY

#CODay2020

#ConscientiousObjection has been at the core of IFOR original engagement for a culture of peace ever since 1914 and constitutes the roots of the fellowship together with nonviolence and reconciliation.

 #ObjectionDeConscience a été au cœur de l'engagement original de l'IFOR pour une culture de la paix depuis 1914 et constitue les racines de la fellowship avec la non-violence et la réconciliation.

#ObjeciónDeConciencia ha sido el núcleo del empeño original de IFOR por una cultura de paz desde 1914 y constituye las raíces de la fellowship junto con la nonviolencia y la reconciliación.

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The Right to Conscientious Objection is not yet recognized in all countries and wherever it is, its implementation is not always meeting international standards. There are therefore conscientious objectors whose rights are violated in different ways and countries’ situation to report about. It is vital to uphold conscientious objectors around the world and to promote the recognition and implementation of the right to conscientious objection.

One critical contribution that the International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR makes is that it maintains a permanent representation at the United Nations in Geneva which focuses primarily on conscientious objection to military service. IFOR is supported on this particular work by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and coordinates closely with War Resisters' International, the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva, the EBCO - European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and others.  

Here you can find a Q&A on conscientious objection to provide some general information on the subject and to encourage an ongoing conversation on this right and its implementation.  

Below you can find a list of video-testimonies from objectors, which are part of an online action organized by War Resisters’ International office, together with Connection e.V.:

“Refuse to Kill: Video collection for International Conscientious Objection Day”

· Armin Lauven, Pax Christi, Germany: Active for conscientious objectors and deserters worldwide - https://youtu.be/RlB9GzmYC10

· Beran İşçi, Turkey/Germany: My asylum case as conscientious objector is regarded as non-political - https://youtu.be/nNL0p4Bvxec

· Berndt Püschel and Heiko Marx, Germany: International Deserters’ Network goes to the Sky – https://youtu.be/_-oLsKVtnq

· Bob Meola, U.S.: Resistance to the draft to the Vietnam war was an ultimate stand to say No - https://youtu.be/PH0qBezU76M

· Connection e.V., Germany: Conscientious Objectors and Deserters Need Asylum - https://youtu.be/HNFWg9fY44I

· Dustin Hausner, U.S., New York: We need to support people who do not want to commit atrocities - https://youtu.be/fGICgtA5nmY

· Daniel Rezene, Eritrea/Switzerland: Recognize conscientious objection as a ground for asylum - https://youtu.be/LFcabVebPb8

· Deutsche Welle / +90, Turkey: Being a Conscientious Objector
- https://youtu.be/vLkw9hOf7zE

· EBCO in Peace House, Brussels, contributions from various countries: Spot on Conscientious Objection - https://youtu.be/WVw3aULFiqI

· EBCO/Movimento Nonviolento, contributions from various countries: Military Distancing Spot - https://youtu.be/SHdM6vFG3uU

· Emanuel Matondo, Angola/Germany: I knew that war is a crime and then I refused the military service - https://youtu.be/Ahz6Joruxz4

· Ercan Aktaş, Turkey/France: I came to France in October 2017 and never returned - https://youtu.be/KWX7KIMV0u4

· Gunter Schmidt, painter, Germany: I always wished, war was finally dead - https://youtu.be/gdY0mnM957w

· Halil Savda, Turkey/Cyprus: I dream of a nonviolent and free world
- https://youtu.be/t3OSFQwSjJ8

· Heinz Bartjes, Germany: Conscientious Objectors were seen as wimps and sissies - https://youtu.be/JWASZIL1SiU

· Helen Kidan, Eritrea/United Kingdom: People are fleeing indefinite military service in Eritrea - https://youtu.be/cyMK822yJxU

· Hüseyin Civan, Turkey: I reject conscription and war as an antimilitarist and anarchist - https://youtu.be/oTNzwCZgYMg

· IDK, Germany: Views on our work
- https://youtu.be/6ijTOVQ_Xb0

· La Tulpa, Colombia: The antimilitarist collective speaks about militarization and patriarchal society - https://youtu.be/xMz0o5Z9emw

· Lewis M. Randa, U.S.: Conscientious objection is a code word for love, for sanity, for being human - https://youtu.be/pbJ152U3nHY

· Marcela Paz and Rocio Elisabeth, Chile: We want a world without war, without borders and without violence - https://youtu.be/9YrDPsp9L-A

· Mertcan Güler and his Boss, Turkey/Germany: We both reject to go to army - https://youtu.be/GsaeZCmOo1g

· Merve Arkun, Turkey: Conscientious is an anti-war action for women and the rejection of male-dominated codes
- https://youtu.be/a_pm5cQ5tjg

· Nuri Silay, Cyprus: Wherever in the world we call everyone to refuse to be part of the military- https://youtu.be/YYVSN6lgCIY

· Pedro Polo, Spain: We are not soldiers, we are queers
- https://youtu.be/33E3qxawdmI

Links to conscientious objection initiatives which took place on #CODay2020:

• WRI and other organizations 
  https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/coday-2020-showing-solidarity-conscientious-objectors-everywhere 

• BEOC campaign #MilitaryDistancing 
  https://www.ebco-beoc.org/node/465  

• Peace Pledge Union initiative, together with FoR England and Scotland and others 
  https://www.ppu.org.uk/international-conscientious-objectors-day 

• Vicdani Ret Derneği, Turkish member of BEOC, (video subtitled in English) 
  https://vicdaniret.org/vr-der-savassiz-bir-dunya-hayal-etmeye-devam-ediyor-ve-herkesi-bu-hayali-gercek-kilmaya-cagiriyoruz/  

Additional thematic info:

• “The Men Who Said No” Peace Pledge Union's project. 
  https://menwhosaidno.org/men/names_intro.html 

• EBCO's annuale Report on conscientious objection. 
  https://ebco-beoc.org/sites/ebco-beoc.org/files/attachments/2020-02-14-EBCO%20_Annual_Report_2019.pdf

CIVIL SOCIETY TO THE STATES PARTIES OF THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

" As the world mobilises in response to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford to lose sight of the other global challenges that threaten all of us, including the worsening planetary climate emergency and the ongoing threat of catastrophic nuclear war."

More than 80 civil society organizations, concerned with nuclear disarmament, issued a joint statement to the States Parties of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) on May 11th, 2020. The Statement urges the government members of the NPT, especially the nuclear-armed states and their allies, to take serious steps to fulfill their obligations to nuclear disarmament under article VI of the NPT and join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), also known as the Nuclear Ban Treaty.

IFOR supports this initiative and is one of the endorsers of the Joint NGO Statement, which will be emailed to all Member States of the NPT, in view of the fact that the 2020 NPT Review Conference -previously scheduled at the UN in New York from April 27th to May 22nd 2020- was postponed to next spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As reported by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, there are currently more than 14,000 nuclear weapons around the world, 9 nuclear armed states and about 32 nuclear weapons endorsing states.

ATTACHMENTS:
1. Original text of the NGOs JOINT STATEMENT
2. More info on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty are available at https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/npt/
3. More info on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Treaty http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/tpnw/text

IFOR and PSPD address the meeting for the 2020 Review Conference of the NPT at the UN HQ

At the 3rd Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2020 Review Conference of the NPT at the UN HQ, the civil society was given an opportunity to address the meeting. On May 1, 2019, 16 speeches were delivered to the delegates by the civil society groups.

One of them was a joint statement on Korea from the PSPD (People's Solidarity for Partipatory Democracy), a prominent NGO in South Korea, and IFOR. Here is the statement, which has been endorsed by 40 civil society groups in the world, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, U.K., Bangladesh, etc

IFOR joins in messages of solidarity with those affected by the recent bombings in Sri Lanka.

Scroll further down for French and Spanish

The bombings of hotels and churches on Easter Sunday in Colombo and other cities in Sri Lanka are a cause of great pain to IFOR, and we add our voice to the messages of solidarity from around the world in recent days. Churchgoing Sri Lankans cannot have expected to face any such situation on the holiest day in their calendar. Within the last six months, the three Abrahamic faiths have now suffered significant acts of violence: at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, USA, and at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We are deeply concerned that the basic right to freedom of worship should come under attack on different continents in this fashion. IFOR sends its sincerest condolences to the families and friends of those killed, and wishes survivors a speedy physical and mental recovery. Violence in the name of God is not acceptable. We promise to continue to work for an increase in peace and for a nonviolent world in which people of all religious beliefs and none, can live in harmony.

Les attentats perpétrés contre des hôtels et des églises le dimanche de Pâques à Colombo et dans d'autres villes du Sri Lanka sont une cause de grande douleur pour l’IFOR, et nous ajoutons notre voix aux messages de solidarité du monde entier de ces derniers jours. Les chrétiens srilankais ne peuvent pas s'avoir attendu à ce qu'une telle situation se produise le jour le plus saint de leur calendrier. Au cours des six derniers mois, les trois confessions abrahamiques ont subi des actes de violence notables: dans une synagogue à Pittsburgh, aux États-Unis, et dans des mosquées à Christchurch, en Nouvelle-Zélande. Nous sommes profondément préoccupés par le fait que le droit fondamental à la liberté de culte devrait être attaqué de la sorte sur différents continents. L'IFOR adresse ses plus sincères condoléances aux familles et aux amis des personnes décédées, et souhaite aux survivants un prompt rétablissement physique et mental. La violence au nom de Dieu n'est pas acceptable. Nous promettons de continuer à œuvrer en faveur d'une paix accrue et d'un monde nonviolent dans lequel des personnes de toutes croyances religieuses et aucune, pourront vivre en harmonie.

Los ataques a hoteles e iglesias el domingo de Pascua en Colombo y otras ciudades de Sri Lanka son una causa de gran dolor para el IFOR, y sumamos nuestra voz a los mensajes de solidaridad surgidos de todo el mundo en los últimos días. Los cristianos de Sri Lanka no pueden haber esperado que tal situación ocurriera en el día más sagrado de su calendario. En los últimos seis meses, las tres denominaciones abrahámicas han sufrido un acto de violencia significativo: en una sinagoga en Pittsburgh, Estados Unidos, y en mezquitas en Christchurch, Nueva Zelanda. Estamos profundamente preocupados de que el derecho fundamental a la libertad de culto deba ser atacado de esta manera en diferentes continentes. El IFOR hace llegar su más sincero pésame a las familias y los amigos de los fallecidos, y desea a los sobrevivientes una pronta recuperación física y mental. La violencia en nombre de Dios no es aceptable. Nos comprometemos a continuar trabajando por una mayor paz y un mundo noviolento en el que las personas de todas las religiones y de ninguna, puedan vivir en armonía.