(Vatican Radio) The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, Archbishop Bernardito Auza gave two addresses on Tuesday concerning nuclear arms and the advancement of Women.
Please see below the Archbishop’s speech at the General Debate of the UNGA First Committee, on nuclear arms.
Mr. Chairman,
As this is the first time that I address this Committee, allow me to assure you and the bureau
of my delegation’s full cooperation in the pursuit of the Committee’s vitally important
efforts for world peace.
I have the honor to convey to you and to all the delegations the greetings of His Holiness
Pope Francis, who has made clear his strong support for the rapid adoption of steps that
would lead to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and to the reduction of the
world’s reliance on armed force in the conduct of international affairs. He pleads for the
non-proliferation of arms and for the disarmament of all parties, beginning with nuclear
and chemical weapons disarmament.
The past year has seen progress on the elimination of chemical weapons; yet reports of the
continued use of chemical weapons, including chlorine gas, reminds the international
community to redouble its efforts to eliminate once and for all chemical weapons and any
use as a weapon of dual-use chemicals.
With regard to nuclear weapons, the third conference on the humanitarian impact of
nuclear weapons, which will be held in December in Vienna, Austria, is a sobering reminder
of the deep frustration of the international community at the lack of speedy progress on
nuclear disarmament, and of the inhuman and immoral consequences of the use of
weapons of mass destruction. The inability of the nuclear-weapon states to begin
negotiations toward further reductions in their existing stockpiles is troubling, but the
“modernization” of some existing systems and the increase of weapons stockpiles are even
more troubling.
Mr. Chairman,
The ninth NPT Review Conference will take place very soon in New York. Nearly all the
States represented in this room are parties to the NPT. One would think that a Treaty so
important to our mutual security would be implemented more rapidly and effectively, and
that by now decisions taken at previous review conferences would already be advanced in
their implementation. Regrettably, this has not been and is not the case.
The NPT’s central promise of nuclear weapons States to gradually disarm in exchange for
non-nuclear-weapon States to refrain from acquiring nuclear arms remains at an impasse.
The Holy See continues to believe that a policy of permanent nuclear deterrence jeopardizes
the process of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. My delegation, therefore, urges
this Committee and the preparation for the ninth NPT Review Conference to focus on the
need to move beyond nuclear deterrence, and work toward the establishment of lasting
peace founded on mutual trust, rather than a state of mere non-belligerence founded on the
logic of mutual destruction.
In this regard, the Holy See urges all states to sign and/or ratify the CTBT without further
delay, because it is a core element of the international nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation regime.
Moreover, my delegation believes that the establishment of weapons of mass destruction
free zones would be a big step in the right direction, as it would demonstrate we can indeed
move toward a universal agreement to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. Chairman,
In keeping our focus on nuclear weapons and the strengthening of the NPT, we should not
neglect our larger objective of a world less reliant on the use of force. Article VI of the NPT
clearly states that “Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in
good faith on effective measures related to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early
date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament
under strict and effective international control.”
The Holy See welcomes the progress, however modest, in the areas of conventional
weapons, like those related to the implementation of the Ottawa Convention and of the
Cluster Munitions Convention. But it remains deeply concerned that the flow of
conventional arms continues to exacerbate conflicts around the globe. And let us not forget
that financial greed fuels arms sales, and arms sales fuel conflicts that cause untold
sufferings and violations of human rights. For as long as so great a quantity of arms are in
circulation as at present, new pretexts can always be found for initiating hostilities, and
easy access to arms facilitates the perpetration of violence against innocent populations.
It is my delegation’s sincerest hope that this year’s session will respond to this challenge,
and recognize the grave consequences of the proliferation and use of conventional weapons
on human life throughout the world.
While aware that the work of this Committee is extremely challenging and agreements are
hard to come by, we must never despair. May the proverbial image of the constant drops of
water ever patiently melting the hardest rock inspire us all to go forward in the midst of
slow progress and in spite of stalemates and setbacks.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Please see below an address by Archbishop Bernardito Auza Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations 69 th Session of the General Assembly Third Committee on the Advancement of women.
Madam Chair,
The advancement of women throughout the world has been the central focus of
common and continued efforts and initiatives over many years now.
These endeavors have borne fruits: the situation of women in general has largely
improved, especially of those who were in critical situations created by poverty and
discrimination of all sorts. The reduction of maternal and infant mortality shows that
mobilizing adequate resources saves many lives. Such remarkable improvements call
for further efforts in order to more effectively tackle distressing situations that many
women still face today due to lack of education and healthcare, in particular where
such formation and care could prevent devastating consequences, as in the cases of
female genital mutilation and obstetric fistula.
There are still women who endure violence and discrimination, and have no access to
the administration of justice and basic services : women migrant workers,
undocumented women, women unjustly imprisoned, women seeking asylum, women
refugees, women who find themselves in dramatic situations and are exposed to all
sorts of abuses, and many others whose human rights continue to be denied.
My delegation is particularly alarmed over the impact of violence, including sexual
violence, on women caught in conflicts and wars in many countries and regions
around the world, more recently in the Middle East. The Holy See urges all States and
the entire international community to take every possible and necessary step in order
to make humanitarian aid accessible to all victims of violence and, in particular, to
protect women and children from abuses and human trafficking.
Madam Chair,
Reports show that, in many parts of the world, women and children form the majority
of the poor and are affected by the burden of poverty in very specific ways. In many
developing countries, for example, women are the most affected by the lack of
infrastructure for water and energy supply. In urban areas, women are the ones who
suffer the most from violence. Poverty often creates or compounds an unacceptable
gap between men and women, boys and girls in terms of access to basic services and
education. In highly commending those countries where significant progress has been
achieved in these areas, the Holy See believes that much is still to be done to
effectively address the inequalities between men and women, girls and boys.
But beyond inequalities, an even greater and more urgent attention should be focused
on the fight against want, hunger and thirst, against lack of access to clean water and
basic healthcare services, to education and employment opportunities. Rescuing
women and girls from poverty is the key to their advancement and the best guarantee
to achieve equality for them.
Madam Chair,
My delegation believes that the advancement of women should not be measured
merely by the criterion of equality with men. For instance, the fight in favor of
advancement of women should also be a fight for better conditions for mothers. It is
in this sense that efforts to promote the advancement of women should not be at the
expense of other human rights.
Moreover, my delegation wishes to highlight the important role that women play in
poverty alleviation. Women migrant and domestic workers, women living in rural
areas or in slums have been playing a critical role in the success of small-scale
economic activities and microfinance. Assuring women equal access to resources,
capital and technology is a most concrete way of recognizing their enormous
contribution to society and assuring their advancement.
Finally, every effort should be exerted to better recognize women as protagonists in
every aspect of life. Invaluable contributions of women across centuries must be
recognized: intellectuals and artists, wives and mothers, workers and entrepreneurs,
educators and caregivers, civic and political leaders, thinkers and spiritual leaders. We
have women who have been and are impressive examples of daily heroism, and who
stand up to exercise their human rights and live in a dignified way, in the midst and
in spite of exclusion and violence, of mistreatment and discrimination.
Madam Chair,
My delegation remains very supportive of the efforts and initiatives that can protect
the inherent dignity of women, improve their conditions of living and promote the
recognition and full development of their talents and skills.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
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