New York, NY 

Dated: January 28, 2020

On January 21, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/75/L.54.  This resolution calls for convening a global conference to create a plan of action to safeguard religious sites.  It calls on governments to ensure that religious sites “are defined as vulnerable targets” and that measures are taken to ensure they are safeguarded. It also calls on authorities to determine vulnerable sites and “ensure that comprehensive measures are in place for the immediate response to an attack.”

UNITED SIKHS has long advocated with the United Nations and many countries to protect the Hindus and Sikhs of Afghanistan refugees as well as their temples and gurdwaras.  While advocating for visas and refugee status for the displaced Afghans, Executive Director Jagdeep Singh, stated, “the humanitarian crisis, such as the one being endured by Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, is not someone else’s problem. Religious intolerance, persecutions, and massacres harm us all, and victims should be protected.”

UNITED SIKHS has successfully advocated refugee status in different countries for hundreds of individuals and families and has been working continuously to support their relocation and needs until they are re-established in their new countries.  While continuing to assist the refugees of Afghanistan, UNITED SIKHS has written to the UN staff to offer help to identify important Sikh religious and cultural sites.  We welcome the opportunity to participate in the UN conference and to assist in this important and critical endeavor.