(Vatican Radio) Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, Archbishop Bernardito Auza delivered a statement to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Preventing catastrophe: A global agenda for stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors.
In the statement the Archbishop reiterated the "Holy See’s constant and firm opposition to the production and use of weapons of mass destruction." He also noted that the Holy See "noted with "grave concern that technological advances in the destructive power of weapons systems produces ever more frightening catastrophes for innocent civilian populations."
Below find Archbishop Auza's statement in English
The Holy See is grateful that the Presidency of Spain has brought the important subject
of stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors to the
deliberation of this Council and to the attention of the International Community.
The involvement of non-State actors in wars and conflicts has been increasing lately and
this has had horrendous effects on civilian populations, most especially women, children,
the elderly and the disabled. Non-State actors use weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
with impunity and in total lawlessness, showing little or no regard for civilian immunity,
for proportionality and for the discrimination between combatants and non-combatants.
Today the staggering numbers of refugees and forced migrants worldwide bears witness
to the devastation wrought by WMDs, along with frightfully potent conventional
weapons.
Mr. President,
My delegation wishes to reiterate the Holy See’s constant and firm opposition to the
production and use of weapons of mass destruction. Any act, any weapon that aims
indiscriminately to destroy entire cities or extensive areas, together with their
inhabitants, is against all international humanitarian law and all ideas of civilization, and
merits unequivocal, unqualified and unhesitating condemnation.
The Holy See notes with grave concern that technological advances in the destructive
power of weapons systems produces ever more frightening catastrophes for innocent
civilian populations. Just a little more than a week ago, Pope Francis observed, “We say
‘Never again’ but at the same time we produce weapons and sell them to those who are at
war with one another.”
This gifting and selling of arms takes place at different levels.
Some States supply arms to client States even with the knowledge that they will be used
to perpetuate mass atrocities, suppress fundamental human rights and turn back the
development of entire peoples and nations. Transactions are often carried out through
international crime syndicates, which, as Pope Francis stated last week, is “an easy way
to grow rich, but the price is very steep: blood.”
Fighting and defeating the illegal and
criminal arms trade is fundamental to preventing non-State actors from possessing and
using weapons of mass destruction, and thereby to preventing the atrocities they will use
those arms to commit. Strengthening relevant laws and conventions at the multilateral,
bilateral and national levels is a necessary step in the right direction.
Mr. President,
Business as usual with regard to policies concerning weapons of mass destruction, and all
weapons systems, must be replaced with a new global ethic. Profit, geopolitical
advantages at any cost and the logic of fear and mistrust must be replaced by addressing
the wider security, political, economic, and cultural dynamics that lead both State and
non-State actors to seek security, legitimacy, and power in the production of weapons,
rather than in expending their resources to promote socio-economic development,
diplomatic and political participation, respect for fundamental human rights and the rule
of law, and cooperation and solidarity at the regional and international level.
The Holy See has repeatedly called on weapons-producing nations severely to limit and
control the manufacture and sale of weapons and ammunition to unstable countries and
regions of the world where the likelihood of their illegal use or their falling into the hands
of non-State actors is a real and present danger. The proliferation of weapons, regardless
of whether they are weapons of mass destruction or “merely conventional,” simply
aggravates situations of conflict and results in unimaginable human suffering and
material costs, profoundly undermining development and the search for lasting peace.
Non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament underpin global security, respect for
human rights and sustainable development. Without them, the achievement of the much
vaunted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will be seriously jeopardized.
Without them, catastrophes that might have been prevented against persons and peoples
will continue to occur. Without greater international and regional cooperation, especially
among weapons-producing States, strictly to control and limit the movement of weapons
of mass destruction, it is an illusion to talk of a global strategy to stop the proliferation of
such weapons by and among non-State actors.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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