Archbishop Silvano Tomasi Addresses the 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council

From February 25 to March 22, 2013, the Human Rights Council, an inter-governmental body within the UN system, has convened its member states for its twenty-second regular session at UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. During state interventions made in response to the report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and other international organizations, as well a founder of the Center for Migration Studies, urged the plenary to “reinforce human security and address the root causes that make people vulnerable.” He expressed concern that the prevalence and pervasiveness of a consumerist culture created the conditions and opportunities for the exploitation of children, while tolerating violations of human security with impunity. Archbishop Tomasi called for state and civil society actors “to update legislation, increase international and regional cooperation, share information and good practices, combat impunity and corruption, enhance judicial practices, care for the victims and provide ways to reintegrate them into a normal and dignified life in society.” He ended his presentation by asserting that both the private and public sectors of society have the shared task of ensuring the preservation of human dignity and human rights.

For the full text of Archbishop Silvano Tomasi’s presentation, click here.