Photo Credit: Gary Raynaldo  /  Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), at press conference at New York  UN world headquarters Sep. 13, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW YORK –   United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday launched the UN Plan of  Action to Safeguard Religious Sites.  The UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) new plan of action’s goal is to “counter hate and violence around the globe”.  UN Secretary-General António  Guterres  tasked Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for UNAOC with developing the Plan of Action on Mar. 22, 2019 in the aftermath of the tragic terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  The UN Plan of Action provides an action-oriented framework with recommendations to support relevant stakeholders, including Member States, religious leaders, civil society organizations, in preventing attacks against places of worship and guaranteeing the safety of the faithful to worship in peace.

“When people are attacked because  of their religion or beliefs, all of society is diminished. Houses of worship around the world must be safe havens for reflection and peace, not sites for bloodshed and terror.”

-UN Secretary-General António  Guterres

DIPLOMATIC TIMES Video /  Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) speaks on the UN Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites at United Nations world headquarters in New York Sep. 13, 2019.

UNAOC developed the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, entitled “In Unity and Solidarityf or safe and Peaceful Worship,”  in close consultation with governments, United Nations entities, religious leaders, and faith-based organizations.

“The Plan intends to be a result-orientated document that can provide better preparedness and response to possible attacks against religious sites,”  Moratinos said.

“The best way to overcome the threat of violence based on unacceptable forms of manipulation of religion and belief is by uniting our voices for good, countering messages of hate with messages of peace, embracing diversity as a richness not a threat, investing in social cohesion and protecting human rights”,   UN Secretary-General Guterres stated.