New York, 22 May 2025

Mr. President,

The Holy See while deeply concerned about the increasing number and intensity of armed conflicts across the world, which continue to inflict profound and disproportionate suffering on civilian populations, underscores the urgent need for compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

It is fundamental that, even in the midst of conflict, the protection of the human person and its inherent God-given dignity remain at the center of all collective efforts, also in order to avoid the scourge of war. It is particularly troubling that this fundamental principle is increasingly imperiled by the evolving nature of contemporary warfare.

The human person must never be treated as expendable, or reduced to mere collateral damage. Indeed, the deliberate targeting of civilians, including women, children, and humanitarian personnel; the destruction of essential infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and places of worship; and the denial of humanitarian access to those in urgent need are of great concern. While these violations are an immense human tragedy, they also represent a grave affront to the foundations of international security.

In this regard, the Holy See considers it essential to put an end to the use of indiscriminate weapons, landmines and cluster munitions, and to stop the deployment of explosive weapons in populated areas. This together with the cessation of arms production and stockpiling constitute concrete and urgent steps towards a better protection of civilians. In this regard, my Delegation commends the valuable work of the United Nations Mine Action Service and calls for the implementation of the Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.

Furthermore, the increasing use of new and emerging technologies for military purposes is also of deep concern. These developments raise complex legal, ethical, and humanitarian concerns, especially where the use of such technologies could harm civilians.

The Holy See therefore strongly supports the proposal of a legally binding instrument prohibiting lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) by 2026. Ensuring that decisions over life and death remain under meaningful human control is not only a matter of legal accountability, but also a moral responsibility.

Thank you, Mr. President.