On October 6, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention before the Sixth Committee of the Seventy-First Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Agenda Item 84, dedicated to “The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels.”

In his statement, Archbishop Auza praised the fact that the Secretary General’s recent report on rule of law activities is ultimate aimed at facilitating access to justice for all, including the poorest and most vulnerable, detainees, indigent persons, refugees and other displaced persons. The rule of law is meant to be an exemplary teacher and expression of society’s capacity to lift the poor, excluded, infirm and imprisoned. The Holy See called special attention to those illegally detained, unjustly accused, mentally or physically handicapped, and those without adequate assistance to defend their rights. It asked the Committee to propose and evaluate rule of law indicators to examine whether the least among us can exercise substantive and procedural due process under the law. It also requested that surveys involve indicators to determine whether accomplishments are effective, inclusive and sustainable. Archbishop Auza stressed the connection between the rule of law and freedom of opinion and expression, particularly for journalists, researchers and activists, as well as the appropriate independence of the judiciary.

The statement can be found here.