FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2015

On October 16, The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN gave an intervention before the Sixth Committee of the 70th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Agenda item 85 concerning “The rule of law at the national and international levels.”   

In its statement, the Holy See recalled Pope Francis’ words during his Sept. 25 address to the United Nations on how the limitation of power is implicit in the concept of law and in the understanding of justice as giving each his due in line with the person’s transcendent human dignity. The more people treat each other justly, respecting each other's fundamental human freedoms, the healthier societies will be and the less there will be need for coercive laws.

The Holy See notes that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the need to build “peaceful, just and inclusive societies” that feature respect for human rights, the effective rule of law and good governance, and transparent, effective and accountable institutions.  Corruption, violence, conflict and insecurity all negatively affect people’s well-being and development, but especially that of the poorest and most marginalized.

The Holy See mentioned the importance of multilateral treaty processes in promoting and advancing the rule of law as well as the importance of keeping the commitments made. It called attention to the “potentially worrisome development” of “aggressive practices of applying and interpreting international agreements to serve a political agenda never ratified by [Treaty] parties” through implementing agencies and institutions.  

The statement can be read in full here.