Vatican envoy urges UN members not to veto action on war crimes

July 20, 2016

In a UN discussion about war crimes, the Vatican's representative has exhorted Security Council members not to block action on crimes against humanity.

Archbishop Bernardito Auza said that quick UN intervention should not be stopped by a single dissenting vote. He suggested, therefore, that the Security Council members should agree "not to vote...against a credible draft resolution before the Security Council on timely and decisive action to prevent or end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes." He urged the permanent members of the Security Council to make a commitment that they would not veto action on such measures.

Archbishop Auza added that "in situations where evident crimes of genocide, mass atrocities and war crimes are being committed, the action of the international community should not be interpreted as an unwarranted imposition or a limitation of sovereignty of States, provided that it respects the juridical means established in the United Nations Charter and in other international legal instruments."

 

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Further information:

• Holy See calls on Security Council action against war crimes (Vatican Radio)