EDUCATION IS THE GUARANTEE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 8, 2000 (VIS) - Made public today was the Letter from Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Lloyd Axworthy, chairman of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (O.A.S.), which met for its 30th regular session from June 4 to 6 in Windsor, Canada. The letter, dated May 30 and written in English, was delivered by the Holy See Permanent Observer to the O.A.S., Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, who led the Holy See delegation to this session.

The cardinal expressed the Holy See's "appreciation of the conclusions of the 'Dialogue on the Inter-American system for the protection and promotion of human rights' which .... the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs has conducted."

"The full ratification and implementation of the Inter-American instruments of human rights, the acceptance and competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in matters of dispute, and the application of the decisions and recommendations of the Court and Commission are rightly considered as essential conditions for the strengthening of the system." He suggested that "the appeals, actions and proceedings before the Court and Commission be more agile and conclusive."

"It is clear," affirmed Cardinal Sodano, "that ... effective implementation of human rights requires a culture of rights, not only on the part of those in public office, but in the behavior of all citizens." He added that "the Holy See considers that the surest guarantee of human rights in the American continent is the education of all its citizens."

In closing remarks, the secretary of state observed that "the actual realization of such a civic culture calls for a continuing improvement of the material conditions which ensure a healthy life for families and the many other bodies and associations which link the family to the State and form a network of economic and social harmony."

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