Archbishop Silvano Tomasi speaks on financial crisis, development

(Sept 25, 2009) The present financial crisis may jeopardize development goals in countries and could undermine human rights, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi warned the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. Archbishop Tomasi, the Holy See’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva warned that risks of deteriorating economies and social situations, even in wealthy countries, are resulting in increasing numbers of people suffering new forms of poverty, social exclusion and marginalization. He said the Holy See is interested in the U.N. task force which is creating a list of “right-to-development” criteria around the three components of “human-centered development,” an “enabling environment,” and social justice and equity. Agreement on these criteria could be a “fundamental step” to place consideration for the human person and his inherent rights and dignity in development policies at all levels. In development, the archbishop explained, the human person is not only a receiver of aid but also the real actor in his or her development and relationships among peoples. Further, he said the Holy See’s delegation believes the cultural component of the right to development must include the “ethical and spiritual dimensions” of the human person.