Vatican urges UN Human Rights Council to uphold human rights in Syria

(September 17, 2012) The Vatican on Monday urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to promote human rights and uphold humanitarian law in the face of death, suffering and destruction in Syria, saying the violent conflict there shows once more the futility of war as a means to resolve disagreements. Addressing the Council’s 21st Session in Geneva reviewing the Syrian situation, Holy See’s permanent Observer to the UN rights body, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi noted that an estimated 30,000 lives have been lost besides many more wounded, there were over a quarter million refugees, 1.2 million displaced and thousands of children were deprived of school. “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,” which is “an indispensable prerequisite for negotiations and an effective response to the expectations of the people for a democratic new beginning,” Archbishop Tomasi said.
Recalling Pope Benedict XVI’s just concluded visit to Syria’s neighbour, Lebanon, the archbishop said the Holy Father 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. “The commitment to dialogue and to reconciliation must be a priority for all the parties concerned and must be supported by the international community,” Archbishop Tomasi added.
Teh Holy See official called for solidarity with the people of Syria and the whole of the Middle East, putting aside selfish interests and supporting and political process that includes all citizens. The Vatican representative also called for humanitarian assistance to all displaced people and other victims of bombardments and indiscriminate destruction, especially to children. He further called for substituting arms import with importing of ideas for reconciliation.