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Week of October 2, 2017

Statements

This week the Holy See Mission delivered 7 statements at the UN.

Debate on Social Development
Third Committee
 

On October 2, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the Third Committee debate on Agenda Item 27 (a,b), dedicated to Social Development.

In his statement, Archbishop Auza said while progress is being made in the eradication of poverty, increasing inequality, the recent rise in the number of people suffering from hunger, and the number of people still left behind cannot but concern the international community. Real social development must be integrally focused on people to achieve lasting gains, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized. The global economy should seek to benefit everyone materially and spiritually, with subsidiarity and the solidarity of encounter. He singled out the needs of the elderly, disabled, youth and migrants.

His intervention can be found here.

 

 

 

Second Committee General Debate
Second Committee
 

On October 3, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the Second Committee General Debate of the UN General Assembly. The Second Committee is concerned in general with economic and financial questions.

In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that political, cultural and social institutions across the world are being confronted with the effects of a global financial system centered more on money than on the human person, exacerbating situations of homelessness, inequality, polarization, and politicization. Short-term economic and political gain cannot come at the expense of integral human development. Political, economic and civil society leaders must build communities focused on the person and strive to help everyone live a peaceful, decent and healthy life. This involves social integration and inclusion, cooperation rather than cutthroat competition, and a holistic approach to the person’s needs in line with solidarity and subsidiarity. This is the path, he said, to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the foundation of the Global Compacts for Refugees and Migrants.

His intervention can be found here.
 

 

 

Intervention on the Advancement of Women
Third Committee


On October 6, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the debate of Third Committee of the Seventy-Second Session of the UN General Assembly on Agenda Item 28, dedicated to the Advancement of Women.

In his statement, Archbishop Auza emphasized the importance of education for women and girls, highlighting the specific challenges of girls in poverty and remote rural areas who may be excluded from the education necessary for full participation in society. Education is essential in enabling women to become dignified agents of their own development. He also expressed concern for the millions of women and girls who are migrants, fleeing their home due to violence or extreme poverty, and vulnerable to exploitation at the hands of traffickers. Echoing the words of Pope Francis, he summoned the international community “to welcome, to protect, to promote and to integrate” migrants and refugees, and give special attention to more vulnerable women and children.

His statement can be found here.

 

Intervention on Measures to
Eliminate International Terrorism
Sixth Committee
 

On October 4, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the Sixth Committee debate on Agenda Item 109 dedicated to “Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism.”

In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that combatting terrorism requires worldwide cooperation and solidarity. He analyzed the needed response to terrorism on the basis of the four pillars at the foundation of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, the rule of law and integral development. Terrorism attacks all four of these pillars. He applauded the formation of a Working Group to draft a comprehensive convention on international terrorism and said international cohesion is necessary to deny terrorists access to cyber technologies, financing, and safe harbor. He said that no ideological, political, philosophical, racial, ethnic or religious reasons can justify terrorism. The end of fighting it, however, demands proper means: respect for fundamental human rights, for the UN Charter and for international law; otherwise we risk corroding the values we seek to defend. He added that, to counter the narratives and ideologies terrorists use to recruit and radicalize others, there must be a focus on integral development.

His statement can be found here.

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Intervention on Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice and International Drug Control
Third Committee


On October 4, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention at the Third Committee of the Seventy-Second Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Agenda Item 107, dedicated to “Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice” and on Agenda Item 108, dedicated to "International Drug Control."

In his statement, Archbishop Auza stressed the urgent need to combat the production and trade of illicit drugs, which threaten society on every level,  in the family, locally and  internationally. He called for substance abuse to be fought at the root causes, through promoting justice, the rule of law and education, and warned against the danger of easing restrictions on drug use. He noted that the production, trade and use of illicit drugs pose great harm to human dignity, especially through their connection with trafficking in persons, poverty increases, breakdown of families, money laundering, government corruption, threats to the rule of law, loss of employment and educational opportunities, risks to health and personal safety, increases in the use of weapons, harm to children, domestic violence, and economic insecurity.

The statement can be found here.

 

 
Intervention on the Rule of Law at the
National and International Levels
Sixth Committee
 

On October 6, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the Sixth Committee debate on Agenda Item 84 dedicated to “The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels.”

In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that efforts to strengthen the rule of law at the national and international levels must be evaluated by whether they have had a tangible, measurable impact on the most vulnerable. He praised the UN’s efforts to improve access to justice for disempowered people living in areas remote from legal institutions. He said that international treaties must be respected and implemented, rather than just formally entered, and insisted on the protection of lawyers and judges who apply the law in the service of justice.

His statement can be found here.

 

 

Intervention on Macroeconomic Policy
Questions and International Conferences
on Financing for Development
Second Committee
 

On October 5, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave an intervention during the Second Committee debates on Agenda Item 17, dedicated to Macroeconomic policy questions and on Agenda Item 18, dedicated to the follow-up and implementation of the outcomes of the International Conferences on Financing for Development.

In his statement, Archbishop Auza expressed concern for the decline in international trade and called for a more inclusive world economy, encouraging developed countries to lower protective tariffs and increase trade with Least Developed Countries (LDCs). He also highlighted the importance of increasing official development assistance for LDCs, while expressing concern about debt sustainability for developing countries. He said that increasing debt relief, humanitarian aid, and donor commitments for the growing burden of global refugee costs will help make possible the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

His statement can be found here.

 

 

Upcoming Events

The Other is a Good for Me: The Role of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Addressing Violence, Conflict and Building Lasting Peace in the World Today
Friday, October 13 | 3-5 p.m.
Conference Room 12, United Nations Headquarters

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Peace and Reconciliation in Colombia: The Impact of the Visit of Pope Francis
Friday, October 20, 2017 | 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Conference Room 12, UN Headquarters

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Peace, Reconciliation and Justice: The Future of Religious Minorities Victimized by Daesh
Thursday, November 2, 2017 | 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Conference Room 8, UN Headquarters

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