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.