Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Holy See notes importance of maintaining peace and security

zenit.org :

On November 14, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gave a statement before the Fourth Committee of the 74th Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Agenda Item 52, dedicated to a comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations.

Archbishop Auza highlighted the important role that peacekeeping plays in maintaining international peace and security. Today’s peacekeeping missions are multifaceted and multifunctional, he said, providing both troops and police officers to work at the community level in a way that positively impacts host States and their populations. Auza acknowledged the role of the Declaration of Shared Commitments in providing a framework for conflict resolution and cited the message of Pope Francis, who earlier this year, emphasized the importance of politics in resolving disputes.

As 2019 marks both the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1265 on the protection of civilians in conflict and the seventieth anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions, the pillars of humanitarian law, he praised the important work of peacekeepers, while also highlighting that civilians continue to be targets of indiscriminate attacks and other violations.

Auza welcomed the emphasis of the Declaration of Shared Commitments on the protection of children and women in peacekeeping operations and on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The best strategy to protect civilians, he said, is to prevent the outbreak of armed conflict.