Statement on International Day of Religious Freedom

October 27, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

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

“Freedom of religion and freedom of belief are key to resilient, prosperous and peaceful societies where all people can succeed and feel welcome. They are universal human rights, enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and an integral part of Canada’s international engagement. Canada, as a multicultural, multi-faith and multi-ethnic society, stands with all faith and belief communities today and every day.

“Worldwide, these freedoms are increasingly under threat. All of us have an obligation to speak out against hatred wherever and whenever it occurs. Canada is standing up for the rights of faith and belief communities around the world.

“Since 2020, Canada has contributed $1.75 million to the U.S. Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Fund, which provides emergency assistance to survivors of severe religious persecution. Canada also founded and co-chairs the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, which brings together a cross-regional group of countries and organizations to address the growing repression of the individual’s right to believe or not believe and the individual’s right to worship freely.

“Canada is also alarmed by the global rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia. We have witnessed a dramatic increase in violent incidents, hate crimes and hate speech across Canada and globally since the events of October 7, 2023. Online hate and vitriol are also at unprecedented levels. Antisemitism is not a problem for the Jewish community to confront alone, just as Islamophobia is not a problem for only the Muslim community to confront. Both forms of hatred are antithetical to our shared values of respect, dignity and peaceful dialogue. 

“Canada is taking action to protect these communities, including through the work of Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, and Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.

“Canada will continue to work at home and abroad to advocate for the protection of the rights of persecuted minorities. Hatred and discrimination, including on the basis of religion or belief, have no place in Canada or in the world we want.”