(Vatican Radio) – Less than 24 hours after Pope Benedict XVI’s heartfelt appeal to
regional and global powers to stop the violence in Syria, the Vatican has redoubled
its call for urgent aid to the innocent victims of the conflict particularly children.
Addressing the 21st Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the
Holy See’s permanent observer to the UN , Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi stated that
the international community needs to make humanitarian assistance to all displaced
people and other victims of bombardments and indiscriminate destruction, especially
to children, a priority.
Archbishop Tomasi echoed the Holy Father’s call for
an end to the importation of arms and he appealed to journalists to report on the
situation “with fairness and complete information so that public opinion may more
easily grasp the futility of violence”.
Below the full statement of Archbishop
Silvano Tomasi
Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano
M. Tomasi Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International
Organizations in Geneva at the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council
– Item 4 – Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Commission
of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Geneva, 17 September 2012
Madam President,
The Report of the Independent International Commission
of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and other sources of information document all
too well the results of months of violence in that country: thousands, some estimate
30,000, of victims who have lost their lives and many others who have been wounded;
city neighbourhoods destroyed; more than a quarter of a million made refugees; 1.2
million internally displaced people; classes cancelled indefinitely for tens of thousands
of children. Above all, social trust and civil conviviality have been broken. This
violent conflict shows the futility of war as a means to resolve disagreements. It
is appropriate that this Council should adopt the perspective of the victims in its
resolve to promote human rights and to uphold humanitarian law. Respect for the fundamental
rights of the victims of this conflict is, in fact, the road that can lead to healing
human relations and to peace, an indispensable prerequisite for negotiations and an
effective response to the expectations of the people for a democratic new beginning.
The Holy See has been following the worsening of the conflict in Syria with
great attention and deep concern given the risk of destabilization in the entire region
and the total disregard of civilian population; has reiterated its rejection of violence
from whatever source it may come; and regrets the loss of so many human lives and
family tragedies. The voice of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, a pilgrim of peace in
the area, has condemned without any ambiguity the use of violence: “Even though it
seems hard to find solutions to the various problems that affect the region,” he said,
“we cannot resign ourselves to violence and to the aggravation of tensions. The commitment
to dialogue and to reconciliation must be a priority for all the parties concerned
and must be supported by the international community.” A stable peace in the Middle
East is an important benefit for the whole world. With God’s gift of peace, local
people can use their talents for the development and progress of their countries,
enjoy their right to a decent life there, and avoid the misery and suffering of forced
uprooting and exile.
Solidarity with the people of Syria
and, by extension, to the whole of the Middle East, implies that the international
community should put aside selfish interests, support the political process for a
cessation of violence and for an orderly and inclusive participation of all groups
in the management of the country as citizens of equal dignity and responsibility.
An additional requirement appears urgent to make solidarity effective and genuine:
humanitarian assistance to all displaced people and other victims of bombardments
and indiscriminate destruction, especially to children. Then, to the importation of
arms, the firm and common will for peace and the importation of ideas for reconciliation
should be substituted. Furthermore, journalists should report on this situation with
fairness and complete information so that public opinion may more easily grasp the
futility of violence and how in the long run it doesn’t benefit anyone. Media, too,
can help build a culture of peace and point at the benefits of reconciliation.
The wave of protests, peaceful on the part of most of the participants,
that have characterized what has been called the Arab Spring, stemmed from the deep
desire, especially of younger people, for greater freedom, better employment, a real
participation in public life. To frustrate these aspirations through the manipulation
of power and forms of control will have a lasting damage and miss a historical opportunity
for progress.
Madam President,
The people of Syria and the
Middle East deserve support and solidarity in their moment of need. The promotion
of all human rights is an effective and indispensable strategy for the success of
their struggle for peace and social conviviality.