By Holy See Mission
Intervention
of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN
at the
Security Council Open Debate on
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict:
Protection challenges and needs faced by women and
girls
in armed conflict and post-conflict settings
New
York, 30 January 2015Mister
President,My delegation wishes
to congratulate Chile for its Presidency of the Security Council and for
convening this important debate on protection, challenges and needs faced by
women and girls in armed conflict and post conflict settings. Today’s
discussion provides a much needed opportunity to focus on the impact of
violence on women and girls in conflict settings and to identify the
initiatives that must be undertaken to eradicate this scourge, that continues
to escalate.The Holy See firmly
opposes recourse to armed conflict as a means of solving disputes and
recognizes that women and girls suffer disproportionately from the ravages of
conflict. In conflict settings women and girls are more vulnerable as a result
of inequality and are directly targeted as part of fear tactics and deliberate
assaults on their rights.Although a focus on
women’s protection and inclusion has been a mainstay of the Council’s
deliberations, many gaps remain and must be addressed by this august body.
Through a series of resolutions, this Security Council has recognized that
further steps must be taken to protect women and girls in conflict and
post-conflict situations and to examine the unique impact of armed conflict on
women and girls. However, reports of violence committed against women in the
most brutal and horrific forms, including sexual slavery, rape and trafficking
are increasing.Mister President, The belief in the
sanctity of human life and inherent dignity of the human person is the
foundation of the principles of Catholic Social teaching. All persons, women
and men, girls and boys, by virtue of their human dignity are free and equal.
Violence in all its forms is an affront to human dignity and, moreover, sexual
violence against women tears at the very fabric of society.This was pointed out
by His Holiness Pope Francis, when he emphasized that we must not “overlook the
fact that wars involve another horrendous crime, the crime of rape. This is a
most grave offense against the dignity of women, who are not only violated in
body but also in spirit, resulting in a trauma hard to erase and with effects
on society as well. Sadly, even apart from situations of war, all too many
women even today are victims of violence.”[1]Mister President,Armed conflict
affects the security of the entire community and of the family in
particular. It causes displacement,
forcing families to flee and stable communities to disintegrate. Ripped from
their land and rich history families and entire communities are vulnerable and
exploited as outsiders in foreign lands.In addition, mainly
men are called to fight in situations of armed conflict, leaving their family
behind to fend for itself. Without the protection of their husband or father,
women and girls in particular are vulnerable to exploitation and gross human
rights violations with the possibility of becoming the prey of terrorist
networks.Mister President,My delegation remains
concerned about the continued lack of attention and priority to the protection
of women and girls who are targeted and attacked purely because of the faith they profess. The lack of focus and
priority for protecting them is troubling when Christians face extinction in
some regions of the world and in other regions Christian schools for girls are
targeted and attacked. This is a shared reality of members of all faiths and
therefore requires the shared commitment of members of all faiths and
governments strongly to condemn and confront such violence[2].
As Pope Francis
noted, acts of violence continue to strike indiscriminately and there is an
alarming increase in kidnapping, particularly of young girls who are made
objects of trafficking. This is an
abominable trade that must come to an end. This scourge must be eradicated,
since it strikes all of us, from individual families to the entire
international community[3]. Mister President,The Catholic Church
through her institutions and agencies around the world is providing assistance,
care and support to thousands of survivors of sexual violence in situations of
armed conflict. These institutions and
their courageous individuals sacrifice themselves on a daily basis and many of
these have paid dearly for their endeavors. Because of this permanent local
presence in the world’s most disaster prone areas, this network of Catholic
institutions and agencies do respond rapidly and effectively to address the
consequence of violence in armed conflict.In conclusion, as
Pope Francis recently noted in his address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited
to the Holy See, we must reject the “culture of enslavement” which is incapable
of doing good or pursuing peace and accepts as inevitable the spread of war and
violence. We must redouble our efforts to replace this “culture” with a culture
of life and peace in which governments and the international community fulfill
their fundamental responsibility to protect all people[4].Thank you, Mister
President.
[1] Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Members
of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, 12 January 2015.
[2] Address
of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited
to the Holy See, 12 January 2015.
[3] Address of His
Holiness Pope Francis to the new Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See on the
occasion of the presentation of letters of credence, 12 December 2013.
[4] Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Members
of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, 12 January 2015.
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