Statement on International Religious Freedom Day

October 27, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

“Discrimination against religious and belief communities has no place in Canada, or in the world we want. As with all forms of discrimination, it causes suffering and division and leads to a climate of fear, intolerance and stigmatization. Today, on International Religious Freedom Day, we celebrate the freedom to manifest and practise our faith or belief, both as individuals and together with others, in peace and security. This cherished freedom, which protects believers and non-believers alike, is a fundamental universal human right that is intrinsically entwined with freedom of expression, assembly and association. As with those basic human rights, freedom of religion or belief plays a pivotal role in nurturing peaceful, prosperous, resilient and inclusive societies.

“Canada prides itself on being a multicultural, multi-faith and multi-ethnic society—however, it is not immune to the rising discrimination and hate we are witnessing around the world. Heinous or violent acts targeting religious communities have absolutely no place in Canada. As we see the stark rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia, Canada has taken serious action to protect these communities. We have appointed Deborah Lyons as Canada’s Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism and Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.

“Canada is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief internationally and at home. We work with both multilateral and bilateral partners to create a climate of inclusion and respect for diversity, and we speak out strongly against the persecution of minorities on the grounds of religion or belief. Last month, Special Representative Elghawaby, Canada’s Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, along with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, co-hosted the Canadian launch of a practical guide to understanding anti-Muslim hate crimes. This guide will strengthen Canada’s toolbox for tackling Islamophobia. Canada also established, and has been co-chairing since 2015, the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This platform aims to foster cooperation among states to promote freedom of religion or belief and to advocate internationally on behalf of persecuted faith and belief communities.

“No person or group should face restrictions on the freedom to practise their faith or belief, whether in the form of laws, policies or actions or through harassment or violence. Canada will continue to stand up for this freedom while promoting diversity and inclusion for all.”