Vatican City, 23 April 2015 (VIS) –
Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See permanent observer at the United
Nations, spoke during the Security Council open debate on “Women,
peace security” in New York on 15 April 2015.
“Women are not spared any of the
brutal consequences of war, and are additionally subject to uniquely
degrading and traumatising attacks and long-term consequences”,
said the prelate. “It is only just and reasonable that their voice
should be present and influential in the work of preventing and
resolving violence and war. It is well documented that sexual
violence of many kinds accompanies modern warfare. We all know the
awful litany: women are raped and trafficked, forced into
prostitution to earn a living, and terrorised individually and in
their roles as protectors of their children and other vulnerable
family members. All violence against human life is terrible, but
sexual violence is intended to debase, dehumanise, demoralise – in
a unique way. The consequences are profound and long lasting –
physical as well as psychological”.
The nuncio remarked that this last year
has been notable for the “new and ongoing atrocities involving
sexual violence in various conflicts and by groups such as Boko Haram
and the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Some are
also attacks upon women and girls purely because of the faith they
profess. Although this is of very serious concern today for
Christians, surely this is a matter where our shared human nature,
across all religions and cultures, cries out for common commitment of
members of all faiths and governments, strongly to condemn and
confront such heinous acts, and to step forward to protect those
threatened”.
“It seems that, in the past several
years, there has emerged a greater international consciousness of the
scourge of human trafficking, and even increased responses” he
continued. “It is to be hoped that there will be an ever greater
appreciation of what Pope Francis has called the 'trauma', affecting
both 'body and spirit', of rape as a tool of war. To adapt an
observation made by His Holiness, a two point drop in the stock
market is front page news, while the violation of hundreds or even
thousands of women would go unreported”.
The Holy See delegation therefore
supports the processes identified in successive reports issued by the
Secretary General, as essential for ensuring justice to women
assaulted in conflict: effective investigation and documentation;
consistent and rigorous prosecution; and ongoing investigation and
responsibility regarding the root causes of sexual and other violence
in armed conflict. “We support efforts to bring adequate legal,
medical and social services to the particular women affected, to
witnesses and survivors, and to their family members. Because of the
Catholic Church’s permanent local presence in the areas of the
world most affected by disasters, a network of Catholic institutions
and agencies respond rapidly and effectively to address the
consequence of violence in armed conflict. It is always distressing,
however, to see that some are still promoting the abortion of unborn
children as part of the 'treatment' or response to the attack of
their mothers. This contradicts the peace and security mission of the
United Nations, and proposes to meet violence with more violence”.
Archbishop Auza concluded, “It has
been observed many times at this body, and it is true, that women are
not only victims but also necessary agents and contributors in the
work of preventing and resolving conflicts. Without their
contributions, government, negotiators and civil society groups can
neither understand the problems, nor propose effective solutions.
Moreover, it is important to continue in every Member State the
steady and patient work of achieving structural justice for women in
every sector of society. A proper vision of women’s roles in
society, and an integration of women in every social sector, are
crucial aspects of the prevention of violence”.
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