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Good morning. The winning photograph from the United Nation’s Photography 4 Humanity project shows a battered home situated precariously over the river Ganges looking for all that it might topple over at any moment. The owner is sitting by and a young child looks into the distance. The project is one of a series of exhibitions showcasing human rights through images. 2023 is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and this photograph speaks to me not only of the despair and injustice faced by poor and marginalized people but of the threats faced by people all over the world to many of the rights set out in the declaration. One right that is very fragile is Article 18 which states that 'everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.' I think of the Uyghur Muslims in China or the Bahai in Iran, but there are many other instances around the world where the rights of religious minorities continue to be violated. Defending human rights, but especially the right to freedom of religion or belief of All peoples was a central cause for the Sikh Gurus, and this is exemplified by the sacrifices made by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, and his family. Guru Gobind Singh lived in a time when Emperor Aurangzeb ruled India and persecuted many religious communities. The emperor had ordered the execution of Guru Gobind Singh’s faither for defending the rights of another religious community. Guru Gobind’s 4 sons were all martyred. His two youngest sons, were killed for refusing to give up their faith – they said ‘Our lives we can leave, but our Sikhi we cannot leave.’ For Sikhs the last month as been one of reflection and sorrow but also of inspiration -and a reminder to Sikh men and women to lead the lives of Sant Sipahi, saint-soldiers - committed to standing up for truth and fighting for social justice. Not out of fear or hate, but out of courage, compassion, empathy and love. We still have a long way to go to create a world in which religious freedoms and human rights are protected. When I reflect on the sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus in the pursuit of justice, I am reminded of the duty to care not only for ourselves, but to struggle for the right of all people to live a life of freedom and dignity. Guru Gobind Singh - in his ‘praise of the Timeless One’ – tells us why in his verses. All mankind is one though it appears variously. Geographical diversities create the differences. All humans are made similarly. And all are made of the same elements. God of all is the same and similar are their scriptures. Similar are the forms and preachings of all religions.