Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UN Chief Launches Plan to Safeguard Religious Sites, Worshippers

Margaret Besheer

   UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has launched
   an initiative to protect religious sites around the world in the face
   of growing attacks on places of worship.
   "Religious sites should be places of worship, not places of war,"
   Guterres told reporters Thursday.
   The initiative aims to provide concrete recommendations to help
   countries ensure that houses of worship and their congregations are
   safe and that the values of compassion and tolerance are fostered
   globally.
   In June, Guterres launched a companion effort to address root causes of
   hate speech, which he has repeatedly warned is inflaming intolerance
   around the world. He has been especially critical of politicians who
   encourage xenophobia and use language targeting minorities, refugees,
   migrants and, as he put it, "anyone considered the so-called'other,'
   "though he has refrained from calling out offenders by name.
   "When political figures add fuel to the wildfire, we are all
   threatened," he said.

.