Archbishop Tomasi: solidarity and protection for refugees and internally displaced
persons
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 63rd Session of the Executive
Committee of UNHCR Geneva, 2 October 2012
Mr. Chairman,
The
surge in the number of recent conflicts has produced new waves of refugees and displaced
persons. The futility of violence as a method for resolving disputes is evident in
the price in suffering that hundreds of thousands of persons, mostly women and children,
are paying as a consequence of political decisions that disregard their human impact.
Forcibly uprooted people challenge the international community, that has failed to
prevent it, to respond to their vulnerability. Family life has been disrupted, minors
find themselves in a lonely life in refugee camps or in dangerous urban environments,
and for all refugees the traumatic experience of death and destruction left behind
marks their existence forever. These facts are all too familiar as they repeat themselves
with every new crisis without, unfortunately, teaching us to avoid such tragedies.
The
media spotlight focuses on the more politically interesting cases for them and leave
in the shadows of public awareness other masses of displaced people forgotten and
left to their tragic destiny. The Holy See Delegation takes note and is grateful for
those countries which have kept their borders and their hearts open to receive refugees
fleeing conflict in neighboring States and calls on all member States to assist in
sharing the burden these new refugee populations place on many of their hosts.
New
complicating variables make the obligation to assist today’s refugees more difficult.
Not only the persisting economic crisis limits the options of response to the current
emergencies, but also a devastating drought in some parts of the world has damaged
crops and further weakened economic recovery. Food prices are volatile and foodstuff
is excessively used for biofuels. Thus food for refugee camps costs more and risks
to be inadequate. It would be an additional tragedy if food speculation were to aggravate
the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the increasing number of refugees and forcibly
displaced persons.
Regarding burden sharing in the present circumstances,
a country’s wealth and level of development needs to be taken into account. Allow
me to quote a pertinent remark by Pope Benedict XVI writing to the Chancellor of the
Federal Republic of Germany: “The Holy See has repeatedly insisted that, while the
Governments of poorer countries have a responsibility with regard to good governance
and the elimination of poverty, the active involvement of international partners is
indispensable. This should not be seen as an “extra” or as a concession which could
be postponed in the face of pressing national concerns. It is a grave and unconditional
moral responsibility, founded on the unity of the human race, and on the common dignity
and shared destiny of rich and poor alike, who are drawn ever closer by the process
of globalization.”
The limits now experienced with implementing the classical
durable solutions of voluntary return, resettlement and local integration should encourage
both new efforts to prevent refugee flows and to imagine some concrete mechanisms
for a fairer distribution of responsibility in today’s globalized world. The application
of the concept of citizenship as an equalizing basic right instead of ethnic or religious
affiliation for the population of a country could serve as a good example of a new
understanding of social cohesion that helps to prevent conflicts. The commitment to
formation of a reconciliation attitude instead of approving and teaching hatred and
revenge to children, especially those affected by forced uprooting, will alleviate
the risk of future revenge and violence and consequent refugee production. The vicious
circle can be broken by forgiveness, dialogue and reconciliation.
Mr. Chairman,
An inevitable consequence of protracted refugee situations is that children born
into them get older. Like all children they need hope for their future and an opportunity
to develop into productive adults. Education is a key factor in this development.
My Delegation welcomes the UNHCR’s expanded vision of education announced in its recent
education policy. The preparation of teachers, the availability of education facilities
no matter how simple, regular teaching programs, are invaluable resources and good
evidence of their value is provided by their implementation in the largest world refugee
camp of Dadaab (Kenya). Very important is also the recognition in the UNHCR’s policy
that ending refugee education with primary education is to stunt development of the
children in our care. The Holy See calls on States hosting refugee populations to
remove all barriers to further education for these children, barriers such as study
permits and lack of access to government sponsored scholarships, so that their potential
might be realized. For the countries unable to meet these objectives, international
solidarity should help them. Even though resources are really stretched at the moment,
investment in education assures benefits for the future.
Mr. Chairman, It
is once again a fact this year that there are more persons internally displaced by
conflict in the world than there are refugees. My Delegation is also aware that the
topic of the extent of the UNHCR’s involvement in providing assistance to IDPs is
one on which States differ. In some instances there is a genuine fear of “mission
creep” and a concern that the core mission of the UNHCR, protection of refugees, will
suffer. In other instances there is reason to suspect that the presence of neutral,
international eyes during internal armed conflict or the provision of life saving
assistance to locally disfavored groups might not be welcome. The Holy See encourages
the High Commissioner to continue to go the extra mile with regards to those displaced
by armed conflict. This should be done in the first instance by seeking humanitarian
access to affected populations to assess their protection needs and in the second
instance in coordination with other United Nations bodies by providing crucial assistance
to these people. In connection with this the Holy See welcomes the humanitarian efforts
being made by the UNHCR on behalf of the people of the Eastern area of the Democratic
Republic of Congo. At the same, time my Delegation sincerely hopes that the pleas
from the religious leaders of the region be heard and acted on by all parties to the
conflict in that region that the killings, rapes, and forced recruitment of child
soldiers end.
Mr. Chairman, In conclusion, as armed clashes persist and
new uprooted people are obliged to seek survival in exile and in precarious conditions
of physical and psychological suffering it becomes our common responsibility to search
and apply more creative and concrete forms of solidarity and protection.