United Nations Archives

Nuclear weapons ban treaty will be tough to put into effect

The real work ahead under a new UN treaty banning the possession of nuclear weapons is getting the world’s nuclear-weapons possessing countries and dozens more that fall under the so-called “nuclear umbrella” to take seriously the call to reduce and eventually rid the world of ballistic arsenals, according to Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International.

Auza: At heart of human rights is respecting inherent dignity of all

Regarding the rule of law, the Vatican’s U.N. representative, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, said, it is meant “to fulfill a role beyond maintaining harmony and order.” It is meant to be “an exemplary teacher,” he said, and is tightly tied to “the protection of human rights.”

Vatican deploys $500,000 for ‘Pope for South Sudan’ initiative
- Global Church, Vatican
- June 21, 2017
After cancelling his October trip to South Sudan, Pope Francis remains close to the country plagued by famine and a decade long civil war by donating nearly $500,000 to be used in education, health and agriculture projects in collaboration with religious and lay organizations operating in the territory.
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Elderly at special risk in a “throwaway culture”
- Commentary, Global Church
- June 15, 2017
As the United Nations marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, it is easy to point to blatant financial abuse, fraud, physical attack, and medical neglect inflicted on the elderly and say – with certainty and clarity – that these are evil and illegal acts. However, Pope Francis reminds us that we as a society “throw away the elderly, behind which are attitudes of hidden euthanasia. They aren’t needed and what isn’t needed gets thrown away.”
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Vatican: Failure to protect child migrants an insult to human dignity
- Catholic News Service, Vatican
- June 12, 2017
The Vatican observer to U.N. agencies in Geneva spoke at a panel discussion on unaccompanied migrant children saying that national and international policies often fail to protect young people from traffickers and sexual predators.
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