PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 1999 (VIS) - On October 28, Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations, addressed the Third Committee of the 54th session of the General Assembly on Item 112, "Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children."

Citing well-known statistics about the numbers of children worldwide who suffer from hunger, poverty, the effects of conflicts and their aftermath, exploitation and death or maiming by landmines, the archbishop said that "the abominable crimes committed against millions of children, born and unborn, confirm the fact that without respecting fundamental values, the family of nations will end by digging the graveyards for the future generations instead of securing for them a bright future."

To protect children, Archbishop Martino said in his address, there is a great need to reinforce traditional value systems. He affirmed that "respect for the dignity of the human person, the sacredness of the family and the role of parents in the formation of children, are basic values."

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