Statement of H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
at the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Third Committee, Agenda Item 68 (b and c): Human Rights
New York, 29 October 2014
Madam Chair,
I would like to thank the various Special Rapporteurs and Special Mandate holders for their
reports and work during the past year. Today’s discussion brings to light a great number of
serious challenges to human rights around the world, and reminds us of the need to rebuild
trust in the human rights system in upholding fundamental human rights.
The right to life as enshrined in natural law and protected by international human rights laws
lies at the foundation of all human rights. The Holy See reaffirms that all life must be fully
protected in all its stages from conception until natural death.
In this regard, my delegation welcomes the reduction in the last two years of the recourse to
the death penalty around the globe. As Pope Francis affirmed before representatives of the
Association of International Penal Law, received in the Vatican last October 23, “it is
impossible to imagine that states today cannot make use of another means than capital
punishment to defend peoples’ lives from an unjust aggression." The Pope also recommends
the abolition of life imprisonment, which he defines as “a hidden death penalty” because, like
the death penalty, it excludes all possibilities of redemption and recuperation. He warned
against “penal populism” that privileges punishment to solve society’s ills, rather than a more
rigorous pursuit of social justice and preventative measures. This is especially important
when it comes to juvenile delinquency and crimes committed by the elderly. Pope Francis
called on all people of goodwill to struggle also to improve prison conditions, out of respect
for the human dignity of prisoners, so many of whom, in so many countries of the world,
have been detained for long periods without trial.
Along with the right to life, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion continues
to face serious challenges around the world. In some regions, violations against religious
freedom have multiplied and intensified in their brutality, in particular against religious
minorities. My delegation insists that these ruthless violations must not only be seen as
violence against ethnic and religious minorities, but first and foremost must be condemned
as blatant violations of fundamental human rights, and must be dealt with accordingly.
In other parts of the world, religious freedom faces legal barriers put by public authorities
and experiences condescending if not outright discriminatory behavior of some in society.
Some authorities seek to restrict religious observance to the private realm and impose legal
obligations that conflict with personal conscience and religious beliefs. Given this misconstrued understanding of religious freedom and similar misconceptions still existing
today, my delegation wishes to note that the struggle for religious freedom was at the origins
of certain nations. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is an inalienable
fundamental human right; thus, it has always been and will always be at the core of the
struggle for the recognition and free exercise of fundamental human rights.
In this context, my delegation welcomes the Interim Report of the Special Rapporteur on
freedom of religion or belief(A/69/261), which, inter alia, identifies measures of “reasonable
accommodation” to overcome discrimination and violation of this fundamental human right
in the workplace. Indeed, a world that truly respects religious freedom must move beyond
mere toleration. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights
instruments explicitly affirm that the right to freedom of religion or belief includes the right
of all to practice their faith alone or in community, in public or private, and the right to
change his or her religion or belief.
In order to address these challenges, we must strengthen the international human rights
system. My delegation hopes that the resolution on Strengthening and enhancing the
effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system (A/RES/68/268) translates
into meaningful reform towards greater observance of treaties (Pacta sunt servanda) and
their faithful and objective, not political or ideological, monitoring.
With lessons learned from our failure to stop massive violations of fundamental human
rights – including and most especially religious freedom- and of international humanitarian
law, the time is for courageous decisions. My delegation looks forward to working with all
delegations during this session to reinvigorate respect and appreciation for fundamental
human rights around the world.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
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