Vatican UN envoy calls for international effort to promote peace in Africa's Great Lakes region

March 21, 2016

Speaking on March 21 to a UN session on conflict resolution in Africa's Great Lakes region, the Vatican's representative said that the international community should work to promote human rights, assure free elections, and curb arms traffic.

Archbishop Bernardito Auza said that the conflicts in the region will continue as long as there are "divisions instead of unity, grave violations of human rights instead of respect for the dignity of all, and extreme poverty instead of dignified work for all." It is also essential, he said, to prevent "the abundant natural resources from becoming a curse instead of a blessing, from being exploited in favor of a privileged few instead of remaining the common good of all."

 

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Further information:

• Intervention of Archbishop Bernardito Auza (Holy See Mission)