Statements
Peace and Security in Africa: Strengthening
Peacekeeping Operations in Africa
Security Council
On November 20, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the Security Council’s Open debate dedicated to the theme of “Peace and Security in Africa: Strengthening peacekeeping operations in Africa.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Auza said that in an increasingly fragmented world, peacekeeping operations provide a concrete opportunity for the international community to collaborate in the arduous task of reestablishing peace, protecting civilians and facilitating political processes to restore justice and establish long-term stability. Peacekeeping operations are only a minuscule portion of the world’s military spending, an investment that the international community must be prepared to make, he said. Part of effective peacekeeping engagement in Africa, he said, means involving the continent’s young and vibrant population through quality education and work and through protecting the enormous human and natural resources from exploitation.
The statement can be found here.
Partnerships for Prevention
and Sustaining Peace
Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations
On November 20, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the Eighth Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, being held at UN headquarters in New York and dedicated to the theme, “Commit2Dialogue: Partnerships for Prevention and Sustaining Peace.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Auza said that intercultural and interreligious partnerships and dialogue are more important now than ever to prevent not merely clashes of civilizations but clashes about what even constitutes civilization. Preconditions for such a partnership among cultures and religions include mutual respect and a shared conviction about religion as a positive force in the formation of civilization. Attempts to suppress religious freedom or relegate religion to a private subculture on the part of some governments and societies are misguided, he said, while he called on religious believers to join voices in calling for peace and respect for the dignity of every person, regardless of religious identity. He cited the interreligious meetings in Assisi as a forum for such interreligious dialogue and explained how Catholic institutions and movements, like Focolare, Communion and Liberation and the Sant’Egidio Community, are educating and forming people to live, work and pray for peace and unity.
The statement can be found here.